NORTHERN IRELAND

Paramilitary Activity

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the level of crimes being carried out by each of the main paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: All of the main paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland are engaged in organised criminality to varying degrees. Of the top 25 organised criminal gangs who operate in Northern Ireland, two thirds have links to paramilitary gangs with both loyalist and republican gangs engaging in a range of illicit activity including drugs, smuggling, extortion, armed robbery and intellectual property crime.

Paramilitary Activity

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on terrorist group related crime in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Both loyalist and republican paramilitary groups are heavily involved in organised crime in Northern Ireland. The Organised Crime Task Force Threat Assessment published in May 2004 clearly indicated paramilitary involvement in organised crime. The Independent Monitoring Commission's report of 4 November also provided a clear assessment of the criminal activities of paramilitary groups.

Single-sex Schools

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of secondary school children in Northern Ireland are in single sex schools; and what the percentage was (a) five and (b) 10 years ago.

Barry Gardiner: 31 per cent. of post-primary pupils in Northern Ireland currently attend single sex schools. This compares to 34 per cent. five years ago and 37 per cent. 10 years ago.

Unemployment

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the working age population of Northern Ireland is unemployed.

Barry Gardiner: Seasonally adjusted figures from the Labour Force Survey for the period November 2004-January 2005 estimate that 3.4 per cent. of the working age population in Northern Ireland are unemployed.

Peace Process

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the peace process.

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the peace process.

Paul Murphy: I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) and Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson), Official Report, column 868.

Assets Recovery Agency

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the work of the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The Assets Recovery Agency has set an objective that 80 per cent. of the cases pursued in Northern Ireland will focus on property obtained by, or in the hands of, paramilitaries and organised criminals. The agency met its operational targets in Northern Ireland last year and is set to meet or exceed its targets for this year.
	To date the agency has received 73 referrals. Action has been completed in six cases at a value of £1,720,000 and action is under way in 12 cases, with a value of £4,176,507. A further 13 cases are under investigation and 23 are under assessment. The remaining 19 have been returned to law enforcement agencies.

Value System Education

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he plans to take to broaden the religious and other value system education in schools in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: The Religious Education Core Syllabus is intended to comprise about half of the teaching time for RE, allowing schools scope to include other religions and value systems if they wish. The revised core syllabus that has been drawn up by the four main churches in Northern Ireland addresses the study of other world religions. In addition, Citizenship education, which will cover issues such as religious diversity, is currently being rolled out to all post-primary schools and will become compulsory from September 2006.

Belfast Agreement

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  when the Code of Practice on access to information held by implementation bodies set up under the Belfast Agreement was (a) agreed and (b) published;
	(2)  how many of the implementation bodies set up under the Belfast Agreement have a Code of Practice on access to information held by them.

Paul Murphy: The North South Implementation Bodies Agreement 1999 provides that a code of practice on access to information will be drawn up by the Irish and Northern Ireland Ministers with responsibility for freedom of information for approval by the North/South Ministerial Council. That code is at an advanced stage of preparation and will be published for public consultation shortly.

Farming

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate of the profitability of the (a) dairy, (b) beef, (c) pig and (d) poultry sectors of farming in the Province was in the last year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The level of profitability of the main agricultural sectors is not calculated by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). However, annual estimates are available of the contribution made by each sector towards the overheads and profitability of the agricultural industry, as measured by their aggregate sector gross margins.
	The 2004 provisional sector gross margins are:
	(a) £281 million for dairy cows and followers;
	(b) £244 million for beef cattle, rearing and fattening;
	(c) £23 million for pigs; and
	(d) £23 million for poultry.
	Detailed information on the value of outputs and costs included in the determination of the sector gross margins is given in the Statistical Review of Northern Ireland Agriculture 2004, which is available on the DARD website at www.dardni.gov.uk

Fishing Vessels

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sources of assistance are available to the owners of fishing vessels under 10 metres in length; and what plans he has to extend this assistance to vessels under 10 metres.

Ian Pearson: The under 10 metre fleet are mostly small scale in shore vessels using static gear and not directly affected by the cod closure, therefore, there are no plans to extend assistance. Currently, grant aid is available to this sector under the Building Sustainable Prosperity, Small Scale and Coastal sub-measure which provides assistance for co-ordination, distribution and marketing.

Illegal Immigrants

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will use the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to discuss with the Republic of Ireland the extent to which illegal immigrants are using the Republic of Ireland as a point of entry into the United Kingdom.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	The British Government have no plans to raise this matter at a future meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. We discuss this issue with Ireland in other bilateral forums.

National Sports Foundation

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation to the extension to Northern Ireland of the new National Sports Foundation.

Angela Smith: I have had no discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation to the extension to Northern Ireland of the new National Sports Foundation as detailed arrangements are still to be decided by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. I will, however, be consulting with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the matter in due course.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the value of sales of surplus assets from his Department was in each year since 2000–01.

Paul Murphy: The value of sales of surplus assets from my Department (including its agencies but excluding NDPBs) is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 248,000 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 648,000 
			 2003–04 207,000 
		
	
	This information is included in the departmental resource accounts, copies of which are available in the Library.

Traffic Congestion

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve traffic congestion at Sandyknowes roundabout on the M2 motorway in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. David Burnside, dated 22 March 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what plans he has to improve traffic congestion at Sandyknowes roundabout on the M2 motorway in Northern Ireland. I have been asked to reply as these issues fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	The recently published Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP) proposes modifications to the Sandyknowes roundabout incorporating full signalisation coupled with layout improvements to minimise conflicts between different traffic movements and afford greater priority to the strategic M2 and A8 movements. Roads Service is currently investigating various options to implement these proposals.
	The M2 southbound from Sandyknowes junction through the Greencastle interchange to join the M5 is due to be widened to three lanes as part of Package 1 of Roads Service's DBFO Programme.
	In addition, the Transport Assessment associated with a planning application for the Global Point Development at Ballyhenry, has identified a traffic impact on the Sandyknowes junction. Roads Service is working closely with the developer to reach agreement on the nature and extent of any mitigating measures required for the development.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Transport Links

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his plans are for improving road and rail links between the airport at Aldergrove and Belfast, with particular reference to the Dunsilly roundabout M2 link through Antrim town to the airport.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Burnside, dated 22 March 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question, about what his plans are for improving road and rail links between the airport at Aldergrove and Belfast, with particular reference to the Dunsilly roundabout M2 link through Antrim town to the airport. (223171). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	You may recall that John Spellar, MP, in his letter dated 22 October 2004, assured you that the importance of Belfast International Airport as a transport hub was recognised by the Regional Development Strategy and the Regional Transportation Strategy. During preparation of the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTN TP), the transport links to Belfast International Airport were examined. However, it was considered that the three roads radiating out from the Killead roundabout provided good links to the strategic road network, servicing the Province and beyond. No additional road infrastructure was considered necessary during the life of the Plan.
	The Antrim Road/Dublin Road between Belfast International Airport and Antrim does not offer a direct link to the Key Strategic Road Network and is not therefore, considered to be either a Key Strategic Corridor or Link Corridor, as defined in the Regional Development Strategy. However, the RSTN TP appraisal process included the examination of a new link road connecting the M2 Motorway/Rathmore roundabout to Belfast International Airport, and it is hoped that this proposal will be included, not only in Roads Service's Long Term Forward Planning Schedule, but also as a potential Transport Scheme in the forthcoming Antrim/Ballymena/Larne Development Plan, currently being prepared by the Department of the Environment's Planning Service. The inclusion of this scheme would afford protection of the route from any development that would be likely to prejudice future implementation of a scheme.
	With regard to the Antrim Road/Dublin Road, which forms part of the route from the Dunsilly Roundabout to the airport, I can advise that Roads Service has identified a number of possible road improvements. The first of these, involving the realignment and widening of approximately 500m of carriageway, together with a right turn lane and improved visibility splays at the Dungonnell Road junction to Crumlin, is scheduled to start during the 2005/06 financial year.
	The proposed improvements to the M2 motorway, which will be undertaken as part of Package 1 of Roads Service's DBFO Programme, will widen the existing carriageway to provide three lanes in the Belfast bound direction from Sandyknowes junction through the Greencastle interchange to join the M5. An additional lane will also be provided to carry 3 lanes through the Greencastle interchange in the northbound direction. The works will include the replacement of three of the bridges over the M2 motorway on this section of the route, i.e. Hightown Bridge, Collin Bridge, and Longlands Bridge.
	With regard to improving rail links to the airport, I understand in the context of a new park and ride site near Templepatrick, that Translink would consider diverting the current bus service between Aldergrove and the Europa Bus Centre to enable a rail connection to be made there.
	I hope this information is helpful.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft Pollution

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce the contribution that aircraft make to greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: The Government's proposals to tackle the climate change impacts of aviation are set out in the Future of Air Transport White Paper (paragraphs 3.35–3.43).

Buses

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the A65 quality bus scheme submitted by Leeds city council and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive; and when he expects to make a decision on funding for the scheme.

Charlotte Atkins: Ministers decided to ask regional bodies for a view on its priority. It is now for Leeds city council to determine which of the schemes they would want considered, and the justification for that decision.
	Full consideration of regional views is currently expected to commence in time for the 2006 settlement. Local authorities would need to provide a strong case for the Department to reconsider schemes remitted to the region before those arrangements are in place.

Carriage of Dangerous Goods

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments have responsibility within Wales for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No.568).

David Jamieson: The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 apply to the whole of Great Britain.
	These regulations are the policy responsibility of the Department for Transport. Competent authority functions are primarily shared between DfT and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The lead agency for enforcement of the regulations in Wales is the HSE. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Welsh police forces also have enforcement responsibilities under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding with the HSE.

Carriage of Dangerous Goods

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the drafting process that was followed for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No.568); and whether individuals from outside his Department were involved in the drafting.

David Jamieson: holding answer 21 March 2005
	Transport Ministers and the Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) exchanged correspondence in 2000 and the HSC were invited to prepare the draft regulations. HSC instructed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to undertake that task. HSE's policy and legal advisors prepared the regulations (including a regulatory impact assessment and full consultation exercise) and these were submitted to the DfT who agreed and made them on 1 April 2004.

Concessionary Travel Schemes

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what change in the local Government Finance Settlement would be necessary to reimburse local government in full for the costs of replacing the national minimum standards for concessionary travel schemes for people over the age of 60 with a 100 per cent. discount on bus fares;
	(2)  how much additional government expenditure would be required to introduce concessionary travel schemes for people over the age of 60 with a 100 per cent. discount on bus fares.

Charlotte Atkins: From April 2006, the Government are extending the existing statutory minimum requirement so that older and disabled people in England will be guaranteed free off-peak travel on their local bus services, with no charge for the pass. The Government will be providing an extra £350 million in 2006–07 for the local Government Finance Settlement for local authorities in England, to implement this measure. Total additional government expenditure will be £420 million, also including consequential payments to Wales and Scotland under the Barnett formula.

Cycling

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the average distance cycled per person in each year since 1980.

Alistair Darling: The National Travel Survey (NTS) shows the data requested in the following table.
	
		Average distance cycled per person per year: 1985–86 to 2002–03
		
			  Miles 
		
		
			 1985–86 44 
			   
			 1989–91 41 
			 1990–92 41 
			 1991–93 39 
			 1992–94 38 
			 1993–95 37 
			 1994–96 38 
			 1995–97 39 
			 1996–98 38 
			 1997–99 40 
			 1998–2000 39 
			 1999–2001 39 
			   
			 2002–03 34 
		
	
	Source:
	National Travel Survey, DfT.
	Averages are taken over all the population living in households, not just cyclists. Equivalent information is not available for 1980–84 and 1987–88. Data are shown for three-year aggregates between 1999 and 2001 because of the smaller sample sizes during that period.
	The NTS only collects data on travel by bicycle on the public highway and paved pathways with unrestricted access, and travel by bicycle off these routes will not be recorded. Trips by children's bicycles/tricycles intended as toys are not included.

Departmental Property (Trespass)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of trespassing on his Department's property have been reported in (a) Leicester and (b) England since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and as a result the information provided only relates to the years 2002–03 onwards.
	Comprehensive records on trespass are not kept by the Department and its six agencies. Where records are kept and are accessible without disproportionate cost the information shows that since 1 April 2002 there were 33 incidents of trespass in England but none in Leicester.

De-trunking Programme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on (a) his de-trunking programme and (b) the level of resources transferred from his Department to local highway authorities for this purpose.

David Jamieson: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The policy of transferring non-core trunk roads (de-trunking) to local highway authorities was first set out in the White Paper A New Deal for Transport published in July 1998. De-trunking allows the Highways Agency to concentrate on the operation of the strategic (core) trunk road network, whilst enabling local authorities to consider their own priorities for the improvement of non-core routes. The aim has been to transfer some 3,200 kms (30 per cent.) of the trunk road network (as it was in April 1999) to local authorities in a phased programme. To date more than three-quarters (around 2,500 kms) of the programme has been completed since April 2001.
	(b) Prior to the de-trunking of a road, the Highways Agency and local authority agree an appropriate level of funding for annual routine maintenance and in some cases' outstanding capital maintenance projects. The methodology for calculating the funding has been approved by the Local Government Association to ensure a fair transfer of resources. In the years following de-trunking, the authority can also make supplementary bids for additional funds for capital maintenance projects (bridge replacement, resurfacing etc.) on de-trunked roads as part of the LTP process. In 2004–05 around £33.1 million of routine maintenance funds, and £31.6 million of capital maintenance funds were transferred from the Highways Agency to local authorities for all de-trunked roads.

Driving Licences

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fraudulent applications for driving licences there have been in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been refining enforcement processes in this area over the last few years and reliable figures are only available from 2003. Over this period, DVLA referred on average about 40 suspected fraudulent driving licence applications every week to the prosecution authorities.

General Lighthouse Fund

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was contributed by the General Lighthouse Fund to navigational aids in the territorial waters of the Republic of Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and what his estimate is of contributions over the next three years.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 311W. The figures for the 2004–05 financial year are not yet available.

General Lighthouse Fund

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much was contributed by the central fund to the Northern Lighthouse Board in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the annual budget of (a) the Trinity House Lighthouse Authority, (b) the Commissioners of the Irish Lights and (c) the Northern Lighthouse Board was in each of the last 10 years.

David Jamieson: The expenditure requirements of the three General Lighthouse Authorities are met from the General Lighthouse Fund. The annual expenditure figures available are set out in the following table. Expenditure figures for Trinity House Lighthouse Service prior to 1998 can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	
		£000
		
			  Trinity House Lighthouse Northern Lighthouse Board Commissioners of Irish Lights 
		
		
			 1996–97 — 21,772 16,195 
			 1997–98 — 23,329 15,217 
			 1998–99 29,362 22,057 13,401 
			 1999–2000 28,587 28,185 13,701 
			 2000–01 30,364 22,930 15,077 
			 2001–02 30,203 24,210 16,168 
			 2002–03 31,998 22,385 16,034 
			 2003–04 31,747 22,797 18,864 
			 2004–05(1) 45,558 23,164 20,194 
			 2005–06(1) 38,712 22,941 20,663 
		
	
	(1) Approved budget
	Sanctioned expenditure for Trinity House post 2004 includes the forecast cost of the redevelopment of Harwich buoy yard and offices and redundancy costs.

General Lighthouse Fund

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with negotiations with the Irish Government on the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters.

David Jamieson: The Irish Government's Department of Communication, Marine and Natural Resources have now stated that they have no objection in principle to participating in a review of the 1985 agreement. We are now developing proposals for their consideration as a matter of priority.

General Lighthouse Fund

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue from light dues has been collected from ships calling at ports in (a) Scotland, (b) the Isle of Man, (c) England and Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the Republic of Ireland in each of the last 10 financial years.

David Jamieson: The information requested is set out as follows for the years 1997 to 2004. We do not have the data broken down in this way prior to 1997.
	
		£000
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Scotland 6,628,362 8,034,125 8,929,664 9,110,458 8,536,211 7,270,784 6,495,877 
			 Isle of Man 37,730 44,425 20,636 19,013 19,401 26,075 24,261 
			 England and Wales 51,540,876 54,942,312 55,756,006 57,923,612 62,489,783 60,343,914 63,510,099 
			 Northern Ireland 706,508 617,012 662,504 599,415 662,196 637,722 600,136 
			 Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2,816,420 3,131,481 3,464,780 3,416,675 3,077,674 3,363,730 3,482,544 
			 Total 61,729,896 66,769,355 68,833,590 71,069,173 74,785,265 71,642,225 74,112,917 
		
	
	The figures are for general light dues and does not include income from UK fishing vessels and tugs.
	The figures do not include any light dues refunds that were made.
	The figures for ROI are shown in sterling after conversion from punts. Pre conversion figures shown as follows.
	
		Republic of Ireland
		
			  Euros 
		
		
			 1997–98 3,154,666 
			 1998–99 3,597,475 
			 1999–2000 4,246,164 
			 2000–01 4,396,336 
			 2001–02 4,144,998 
			 2002–03 5,268,091 
			 2003–04 5,008,651

Heathrow Airport

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transit and transfer passengers have used Heathrow airport in each of the last five years.

Charlotte Atkins: The following table shows the number of transit and transfer passengers who used Heathrow airport in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Transit (thousand) Transfers (interliners) (million) 
		
		
			 2000 341 19.0 
			 2001 311 18.6 
			 2002 327 22.3 
			 2003 287 22.9 
			 2004 (provisional) 234 22.7

Correspondence

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the letters of 24 February and 14 March from the hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald regarding a meeting to discuss the Strategic Rail Authority's proposals for the Integrated Kent Franchise.

Tony McNulty: I replied to the right hon. Member's letters on 22 March.

Kerrier Home Zone Project

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the North Kerrier Home Zone project to be completed.

Charlotte Atkins: The council expects phase 1 of the works to be substantially complete by the end of April 2005. Further phases of the project are planned as funds become available. Cornwall county council is responsible for the development and implementation of the North Close Home Zone scheme and has received a grant of £460,000 from the Challenge fund.
	In submitting their bid for the scheme, Cornwall county council underestimated the scale of the project. It has therefore only been possible to implement the first phase of the project from the grant funding available. The county council are planning to implement further phases from other funding streams in future years.

Unadopted Roads

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about unadopted roads on new estates.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has received a small number of representations from people living on unadopted roads on new housing estates. In addition, I met with my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones) last December to discuss unadopted roads in other areas.

Nottingham East Midlands Airport

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from Nottingham East Midlands Airport concerning its proposals for implementing noise controls.

Charlotte Atkins: Nottingham East Midlands Airport (NEMA) has indicated that it will address possible enhancements to its existing environmental mitigation measures in preparing its master plan. I understand that NEMA will go out to consultation on its draft master plan in the summer, with a view to publishing the final document around the end of the year.

Nottingham East Midlands Airport

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's plans are for (a) expansion and (b) night flight capacity at Nottingham East Midlands Airport.

Charlotte Atkins: This is a matter for the airport operator. We expect the airport operator to outline its proposals in its draft master plan, which is expected to be published for consultation in the summer.

Parking Enforcement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of decriminalised parking enforcement on the numbers of (a) traffic wardens and (b) parking enforcement officers in England.

Charlotte Atkins: The Government have encouraged local authorities to take over responsibility for parking enforcement from the police and police traffic wardens. This allows authorities to provide more effective enforcement and to match that enforcement to their local transport objectives. Over 150 local authorities are now responsible for decriminalised parking enforcement, with parking attendants carrying out the enforcement on the street. This policy of transferring responsibility to local authorities is reflected in Home Office figures for the number of traffic wardens in England and Wales for the years 1999–2000 to 2003–04 (the most recent year for which figures are available), which are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 2,801 
			 2000–01 2,538 
			 2001–02 2,280 
			 2002–03 2,108 
			 2003–04 1,688 
		
	
	Comparable figures for parking attendants employed by local authorities are not
	collected centrally.

Regional Funding Allocations

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the proposed introduction of regional transport funding allocations; how many miles of (a) motorway and (b) trunk roads will be reduced from national to regional importance; what representations he has received on this proposal; and what discussions he has had with the (i) Chancellor of the Exchequer, (ii) Deputy Prime Minister and (iii) Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on these proposals.

Charlotte Atkins: In December 2004, the Government launched a consultation on proposals to establish regional funding allocations for transport, housing and economic development. As part of that consultation a number of routes have been classified as being of regional rather than of major national and international importance. This amounts to 520 miles of motorway and 2,185 miles of all-purpose trunk roads. The categorisation is being used to assist the identification of regional priorities for transport investment and does not represent a reduction in the status of these routes. Representations about the classification of routes have been received so far from some local authorities as well as the RAC Foundation, the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association.
	The deadline for responses to the consultation was 10 March 2005. The Government are currently considering the responses received and will set out how it intends to proceed in due course. HM Treasury, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Transport have been working closely together at both ministerial and official level on the development of these proposals.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department sold any surplus stock on the eBay auction website, in each year since 2000–01.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has not used eBay to dispose of any surplus stock.

Train Services (Disruption)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to prevent disruption to train services by adverse weather.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 March 2005
	Network Rail advise that all its regions have plans and preparations in place for adverse weather and ensures that best practice is shared.
	Network Rail is taking a range of actions to prevent disruption to train services in cold weather. Network Rail holds a winter preparation conference every summer to review performance during the previous winter and to start planning for the winter ahead.
	Through these and other efforts, Network Rail has reduced the delays it causes to the network by 16 per cent. over the year ending 31 December 2004, compared to the preceding year. Delays in the autumn period (the 10 weeks from beginning of October to early December 2004) were reduced by 42 per cent. compared to the same period in 2003.

Working Time Regulations

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on guidance given to companies on the application of working time regulations to the transport sector.

David Jamieson: We have produced detailed guidance on the working time arrangements provided for in the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005 (which implement EU Directive 2002/15/EC). We consulted on a draft version of the guidance last October and the finalised version is now posted on our website at www.dft.gov.uk/freight/rtd.

PRIME MINISTER

GP Service

Brian Cotter: To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government is taking to ensure the effective operation of the new out-of-hours GP service.

John Prescott: I have been asked to reply.
	In January this year, the Government's national quality requirements came into force, ensuring that all patients have fast and convenient access to care, delivered by the most appropriate professional in the most appropriate place. This is supported by funding of £316 million, in this financial year, towards out-of-hours services. All patients can now access out-of-hours services with a single call to NHS Direct. Patients are guaranteed a home visit from a GP, if that is what they need.

Dartmoor

Anthony Steen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Dartmoor.

John Prescott: I have been asked to reply.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no current plans to do so.

Northern Ireland

David Lidington: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 20 December 2004 (a) officials and (b) special advisers in his office have met representatives of (i) Provisional Sinn Fein and (ii) the Provisional IRA; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: My officials and I have had frequent meetings with political parties in Northern Ireland.

Terrorism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with (a) Sir Ian Blair and (b) the UK security services regarding Sir Ian Blair's comments that terrorists may use the UK election day as a target date to attack the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: It has been the practice of successive governments not to comment on specific security matters. Terrorist threats are kept under constant review and advice would be issued immediately if members of the public needed to take specific action.

UK Waters (Security)

David Davis: To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for patrolling UK waters for the detection of (a) narcotics, (b) illegal immigrants and (c) illegal importation of weapons.

Tony Blair: The Government are committed to tackling drug trafficking, illegal immigration and illegal imports of weaponry. HM Customs and Excise are responsible for patrolling UK waters for the detection of narcotics and other assigned matters, including the illegal importation of weapons. They also assist the Immigration Service by patrolling against illegal immigration, assisted by the police, Royal Navy and HM Coastguard.
	The Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill provides for the creation of a new Serious Organised Crime Agency which will lead the national fight against drug trafficking, people smuggling and the importation of illegal firearms.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Data Protection

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the operations of companies charging for services to assist compliance with data protection legislation.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department does not have a statutory duty to provide protection to consumers who purchase services directed at helping them to comply with data protection legislation, and so no such assessment has been made. However, the Information Commissioner promotes the following of good practice by data controllers. For example, advice is offered as to what is necessary in order to notify with the Commissioner correctly, which can include taking professional advice. Information has been published on the activities of bogus notification agencies. More generally, the Information Commissioner also supports standards and guidance offered to the data protection user community, for example, by the British Computer Society, The National Computing Centre and the British Standards Institution.

Departmental Policies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Coventry, South constituency, the effects on the constituency of changes to her Department's policy since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 7 March 2004
	This information would only be available at disproportionate cost; therefore, I am unable to provide an answer to my hon. Friend's question: however, I can offer the following information about the Department's activities in Coventry and Warwickshire.
	Coventry has benefited from capital investment in its industry from the Selective Finance for Industry in England (SFIE) programme (formerly Regional Selective Assistance—RSA). In the last five years, 22 companies have received a total of £12.4 million in SFIE offers which will enable these companies to make capital investments totalling £119.6 million. This investment will allow these companies to create 2,407 new jobs and safeguard a further 832 existing jobs.
	Since January 2003 the Small Business Service in the West Midlands made 17 offers of grant to SME's in Coventry. The total value of the grants offered was £945,051 to support Grant for Research and Development (GRD) its predecessor SMART and for Enterprise Grant projects. In the last year, the Small Business Service has assisted a total of 1,695 companies and potential start-ups in the Coventry, South constituency.
	122 companies in Coventry have benefited so far from the subsidised advice available from the West Midlands Manufacturing Advisory Service. Companies also benefit from investment by Advantage West Midlands (AWM) through the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Triangle High Technology Corridor; AWM's Cluster programme and funding through the Coventry and Nuneaton Regeneration Zone. This year alone, AWM has spent £34 million on projects across Coventry and Warwickshire which has achieved the following:
	
		Coventry and Warwickshire
		
			 Projects  
		
		
			 Jobs created or safeguarded (Number) 2,652 
			 New Businesses Created (Number) 89 
			 Businesses Assisted (Number) 2,347 
			 Learning Opportunities Created (Number) 3,889 
			 Brownfield Land Reclaimed (hectares) 11 
			 Private Sector Leverage (£ million) 16 
			 Community Enterprise Initiatives (Number) 382

Tribunal Cases

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tribunal cases have been brought under the (a) Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and (b) the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 since they came into force.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 4 February 2005
	The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 came into force on 1 and 2 December 2003 respectively.
	In the period December 2003 to 31 March 2004 in total 61 Employment Tribunal claims were registered by the Employment Tribunals Service relating to sexual orientation and 70 claims relating to religion or belief.
	For the period 1 April 2004 to 28 February 2005 according to the data held in the Employment Tribunals Service's statistical database, 315 claims have been registered relating to sexual orientation and 265 claims relating to religion or belief. These figures will be included with others in the Employment Tribunals Service's Annual Report, which is due to be published and laid before the House in mid-July 2005.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Consumer Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The EU Consumer Committee was in 2003 renamed the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG). Its meetings are attended by non-governmental consumer organisations. The UK is currently represented by Nick Stace of Which, and Susan Knox of Food Aware is the alternate member.
	Details of ECCG meetings held during the Italian, Irish and Dutch presidency of the EU and who represented the UK are given as follows.
	
		
			 Presidency Date ECCG Meeting UK Representative Location 
		
		
			 Italian July to December 2003 9 July 2003 Susan Knox (Food Aware) Brussels 
			  July to December 2003 2 October 2003 Susan Knox (Food Aware) Brussels 
			  July to December 2003 10 December 2003 Susan Knox (Food Aware) Brussels 
			  
			 Irish January to June 2004 18 March 2004 Susan Knox (Food Aware) Brussels 
			  January to June 2004 15 June 2004 Susan Knox (Food Aware) Brussels 
			  
			 Dutch July to December 2004 22 September 2004 Nick Stace (Consumer Association) Brussels 
			  July to December 2004 10 December 2004 Susan Knox (Food Aware) Brussels

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee of experts on the transit of electricity through grids met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: No such meetings took place. The relevant Directive—90/547/EEC—was repealed with effect from 1 July 2004.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Contact Committee European Economic Interest Grouping met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: There were no such meetings.

Kidney Disease

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding the Medical Research Council has made available for research into kidney disease in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The figures for MRC expenditure on research into kidney disease for the financial years requested are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 2.1 
			 1998–99 1.8 
			 1999–2000 2.1 
			 2000–01 2.5 
			 2001–02 2.7 
			 2002–03 3.3 
		
	
	The figures for the first three financial years are estimates, while those for the latter three financial years are actual expenditure.

Maternity Pay

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the statistics relating to maternity pay, which, since 1997 (a) are no longer collected by her Department and (b) have had the way in which the figures are compiled changed.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 17 March 2005, Official Report, column 423W by the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for disabled people, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle).

Music Industry

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department takes to support the UK music industry; and what action her Department takes to protect the intellectual property rights in the industry.

Patricia Hewitt: In addition to a range of business support solutions that apply to business generally, my Department has recently announced £0.5 million to promote the music industry in key markets like the US and China and, in response to advice from the music industry, UK Trade and Investment will be refocusing its resources and developing new strategies to help UK artists and companies enter the US market which is an export priority for the industry.
	We have delivered legislative changes to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, including enhanced protection in the information society by UK implementation of the EC Copyright Directive (2001/29/EC). My noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation with responsibility for intellectual property, and my right hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for sponsorship of the music industry in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, jointly chair the Creative Industries Forum on Intellectual Property, which includes representatives of the music industry and which is exploring new opportunities for exploiting IP in the digital environment as well as concerns about protection for rights threatened by IP crime and online infringement. This builds on the IP Crime Strategy which was launched by my Department in August last year and our work to raise awareness about IP.

Newcastle-under-Lyme

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in Newcastle-under-Lyme she estimates have benefited from the minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Reliable figures cannot be produced for Newcastle-under-Lyme due to small sample size.
	The DTI estimates that around 80,000 people in the North East have benefited from the October 2004 uprating of the national minimum wage. It is estimated that the October 2005 uprating will provide a guaranteed pay rise for around 80,000 workers in the North East. The DTI has based these estimates on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings April 2004.

Phoenix Companies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to protect consumers from phoenix companies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is as follows:
	Measures in place to protect consumers:
	Disqualification:
	Courts can disqualify directors from between two to 15 years if they are unfit. Phoenix" companies are particularly targeted and the courts take such cases very seriously. But hard evidence is needed in all cases.
	Over 1,000 directors were disqualified in the period April 2004 to February 2005. Over 850 of these disqualifications involved directors offering an undertaking not to act as a director under the recently introduced (2001) new fast track process. It avoids the need for a court hearing where the director consents to a period of disqualification.
	The Enforcement Hotline" was established in January 1998 to enable the public to report possible criminal activities by those who manage companies while disqualified. In the period April 2004 to February 2005, 152 calls were received by the Hotline, 82 of which were referred for investigation.
	Prosecution:
	Directors can be and are prosecuted for offences relating to phoenix" operations and on conviction they can, additionally, be disqualified from being directors.

Regional Offices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) Executive agencies within the remit of her Department have regional offices based on the Government offices for the regions' regional structure; and when the regional offices were established in each case.

Jacqui Smith: The Department is lead sponsor for the eight Regional development agencies, the boundaries of which reflect the Government offices for regions' regional structure. The regional development agencies were established under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. The London Development Agency is based in London and was established by the Greater London Act 1999. None of the Department's other agencies and NDPBs has regional offices based on the Government offices for the regions' regional structure.

Printer Cartridges

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she plans to refer the pricing of printer cartridges to the Office of Fair Trading; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is the independent competition regulator. It is responsible for deciding what action to take to promote effective competition and address anti-competitive behaviour. Anyone with evidence of anti-competitive conduct should pass that information to the OFT.

TREASURY

Child Benefit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from child benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of (a) , (b) , (c) and (d) for November 2003 appear in Child Benefit Statistics. Geographical Analyses. November 2003". The latest figures available for (d) also appear in Child Benefit Quarterly Statistics. November 2004". These publications are available on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/menu.htm. Geographical analyses for 2004 are not yet available.
	I understand from the Department of Work and Pensions that the numbers of families claiming child benefit between 1999 and 2002 (and the numbers of children in these families) were as follows:
	
		
			  August 
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 (a) Jarrow parliamentary constituency 
			 Families 10,720 10,655 10,495 10,495 
			 Children 18,460 18,290 17,895 17,760 
			  
			 (b) South Tyneside local authority 
			 Families 19,810 19,800 19,580 19,530 
			 Children 34,455 34,345 33,685 33,380 
			  
			 (c) North-east Government office region 
			 Families 326,170 325,460 321 ,620 319,790 
			 Children 570,975 568,160 559,230 552,845 
			  
			 Great Britain1 
			 Families 7,014,225 7,020,270 7,004,140 6,987,525 
			 Children 12,745,925 12,728,005 12,657,620 12,582,040 
		
	
	(2) Figures for Northern Ireland are not available on exactly the same basis, and hence the UK figure is unavailable.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are taken from a 100 per cent. sample of the child benefit centre.
	2. In order to maintain anonymity of claimants, all 100 per cent. figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	4. Produced by Information Directorate, DWP.
	Figures for previous years are not available on the same basis.

Civil Service

Quentin Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which departments and agencies he expects to be able to make further reductions in civil service posts.

Paul Boateng: The planned levels of reductions in total and in detail were set out in the Spending Review 2004 White Paper, and are summarised in Chapter 2, Table 2.2.

Inland Revenue

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2005, Official Report, column 1406W, on Inland Revenue, on what date Inland Revenue commenced a review of its existing informers, and its practices relating to them, to ensure that it would be compliant with the provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue responded to an approach by the Home Office in 1999 prior to the passage of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and informed them of the Department's continuing need to use information provider by informants and, in particular, that type of informant later classified as a Covert Human Intelligence Source by the Provisions of RIPA. The Inland Revenue asked staff in its Special Compliance Office to consider whether any of the informers then in use fell within the definition of a Covert Human Intelligence Source on 9 August 2001.

Tax Evasion

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods his Department uses to tackle tax evasion.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue employs a twin-track approach to ensuring tax compliance by helping taxpayers to meet their obligations and dealing effectively with deliberate non-compliance. Central to that approach, the Revenue has a continuous and sophisticated programme of risk assessment directed at tackling tax evasion.

New Homes (VAT)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the zero rate of VAT on new homes.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government keep all taxes under constant review.

New Homes (VAT)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the European Commission regarding the zero rate of VAT on new homes in the United Kingdom.

Dawn Primarolo: I am not aware that any Treasury Minister has received any recent representations from the European Commission concerning the zero rate of VAT for new housing.

Office of Government Commerce

Simon Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suppliers are included on the list of pre-qualified suppliers maintained by the Office of Government Commerce's buying solutions; and how many are located in Wales.

Paul Boateng: OGC buying.solutions does not maintain a listing of 'pre-qualified suppliers.' Delivery of the products and services is via Framework Agreements and Managed Services contracts. The OGC buying.solutions supply base is 570, of which eight have registered offices in Wales.
	In order to provide the appropriate service coverage to central Government and the wider public sector within Wales, the supply base may utilise regional offices or sub-contractors based within Wales. The Management Information submitted by each supplier does not include details of which office or sub-contractor is responsible for carrying out work in each region.

PFI Contracts

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value to date is of secondary market equity sales in private finance initiative contracts.

Paul Boateng: The Government do not hold information on sales of equity stakes in PFI deals as these are transactions between two private sector entities. PFI contracts require that the identity of any new owner arising from such a transaction must be notified to the procuring authority of the PFI project. The Government undertake PFI for reasons of value for money, and the value of secondary private sector equity sales does not change the value for money case or the unitary charge paid for an individual project.

Socio-economic Classifications

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of each National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification was unmarried but lived with a partner in the last period for which figures are available; and what proportion of these couples had a child.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Andrew Tyrie, dated 23 March 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the proportion of cohabiting couple families in each National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC), and the proportion of these families that had a child. I am replying in his absence. (223122)
	The most recent estimates of the number of cohabiting couples indicated that there were 2 million cohabiting couples in England and Wales in 2003. The proportion of these couples who have children is not available. No estimates are made for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The NS-SEC of families is not routinely published, but the Labour Force Survey can be used to provide estimated proportions of family types by NS-SEC. A table based on data from the first quarter of 2004 for the United Kingdom is attached. This table also shows the proportion of cohabiting couples who have children living with them. The data should be interpreted with some caution as the results are not standardised for age. The number of children an NS SEC category of cohabitants have will, in part, be determined by the age distribution of cohabitants in that category.
	
		Proportion of cohabiting couple families(3) in each NS-SEC(4) and the proportion of these couples that had a child(5),United Kingdom, spring 2004
		
			 Percentage 
			  Higher managerial and professional occupations Lower managerial and professional occupations Intermediate occupations Small employers and own account workers Lower supervisory and technical occupations 
		
		
			 Cohabiting couples 13 21 5 12 14 
			   
			 Split of cohabiting couples by whether or not children are resident:  
			 with no children 71 67 66 52 50 
			 with dependent children 27 30 31 43 46 
			 with non-dependent children only 2 '3 3 5 4 
			 Total 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	
		Percentage
		
			  Semi-routine occupations Routine occupations Never worked, long term unemployed full-time students and not stated or classifiable Total 
		
		
			 Cohabiting couples 10 13 12 100 
			  
			 Split of cohabiting couples by whether or not children are resident: 
			 with no children 48 44 64 58 
			 with dependent children 49 52 32 38 
			 with non-dependent children only 4 4 4 4 
			 Total 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	(3) A cohabiting couple family is a cohabiting couple on their own, or with their never-married children who have no children of their own. A small number of those cohabiting will actually be legally married but separated from their marriage partner.
	(4) NS-SEC is an occupationally based classification but has rules to provide coverage of the whole adult population. The family reference person has been used to assign the NS-SEC of the family. It does not follow that everyone in the family will be of the same NS-SEC as the family reference person.
	(5) A family with children can contain dependent or non-dependent children. Dependent children are defined as children under 16 years of age, or those aged 16 to 18 who are never-married and in full-time education.
	Note:
	Due to rounding, percentages may not total to exactly 100.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics.

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 76W, on tax credits, how many complaints were received by the MP tax credits complaints team (a) by post and (b) by telephone in (i) January and (ii) February.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

Total Managed Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the projected total managed expenditure for (a) 2007–08 and (b) 2011–12 is;
	(2)  what the projected annually managed expenditure for (a) 2007–08 and (b) 2011–12 is;
	(3)  what the projected total departmental expenditure limits for (a) 2007–08 and (b) 2011–12 are.

Paul Boateng: Plans for Total Managed Expenditure (TME), including Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) and Annually Managed Expenditure (AME), up to 2007–08 are set out in Chapter C of Budget 2005.
	Illustrative long-term fiscal projections for 2010–11 and beyond were set out in the 2004 Long-term Public Finances Report" and were updated in Annex A of Budget 2005.

Tax Credits

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK received working families tax credit;
	(2)  how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have received child tax credit since its inception.

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of families receiving working families tax credit in the areas requested appear in Working Families' Tax Credit and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses".
	Estimates of the numbers of in-work families in these areas receiving child tax credit at various dates since July 2003 appear in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses". However, these estimates are based on a sample of families and are subject to sampling uncertainty. These publications can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.

Unemployment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the level of (a) unemployment and (b) long-term unemployment has been in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the level of youth unemployment in the North East was in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Stephen Hepburn, dated 23 March 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (223048, 223105)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions. Tables 1 and 2 provide the available information. In table 2, long-term unemployment figures are available for the years 1999 to 2004 but not for earlier years.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 3 gives the annual average numbers of young people aged 18 to 24 years old resident in the North East region claiming JSA. Table 4 shows the annual average numbers of all JSA claimants resident and those claiming for over 12 months in the Jarrow Parliamentary Constituency, South Tyneside Local Authority, the North East region and the United Kingdom. The figures for both tables 3 and 4 are for the years 1997 to 2004.
	
		Table 1: Youth Unemployment1 among residents of the North East Region
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 12 months ending February  
			 1997 33,000 
			 1998 36,000 
			 1999 27,000 
			 2000 34,000 
			 2001 34,000 
			 2002 30,000 
			 2003 28,000 
			 2004 34,000 
		
	
	(6) Unemployed people aged 16 to 24.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: People resident in Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside local authority and North East Region and the United Kingdom by duration of unemployment
		
			 12 months ending February Jarrow parliamentary constituency(7) South Tyneside local authority(7) North East region United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1997 
			 All unemployed 5,000 9,000 118,000 2,207,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  
			 1998 
			 All unemployed 5,000 8,000 106,000 1,911,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  
			 1999 
			 All unemployed 3,000 7,000 93,000 1,730,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) (9)— 3,000 33,000 520,000 
			  
			 2000 
			 All unemployed 4,000 11,000 107,000 1,689,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) 1,000 4,000 33,000 486,000 
			  
			 2001 
			 All unemployed 4,000 8,000 90,000 1,518,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) 1,000 3,000 28,000 410,000 
			  
			 2002 
			 All unemployed 4,000 7,000 84,000 1,450,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) 1,000 2,000 24,000 354,000 
			  
			 2003 
			 All unemployed 3,000 7,000 76,000 1,494,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) 1,000 1,000 20,000 322,000 
			  
			 2004 
			 All unemployed 3,000 6,000 77,000 1,444,000 
			 Long-term unemployed(8) (9)— 1,000 17,000 321,000 
		
	
	n/a = Data not available.
	(7) Estimates for these areas are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	(8) Those unemployed for one year or more.
	(9) Estimate not given in order to protect respondent confidentiality.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 3: JSA claimants resident in the North East region
		
			 Annual averages Youth claimants (aged 18–24) 
		
		
			 1997 25,670 
			 1998 22,680 
			 1999 20,505 
			 2000 19,030 
			 2001 17,580 
			 2002 16,920 
			 2003 16,365 
			 2004 14,680 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system
	
		JSA claimants resident in the Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside local authority, the North East Region and theUnited Kingdom
		
			  Jarrow parliamentary constituency South Tyneside local authority North East region United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1997 
			 All claimants 3,119 7,004 94,459 1,602,442 
			 All claiming for over 12 months 1,035 2,420 33,785 541 ,445 
			  
			 1998 
			 All claimants 2,766 6,283 84,399 1,362,340 
			 All claiming for over 12 months 540 1,335 24,660 365,680 
			  
			 1999 
			 All claimants 2,820 6,477 81,042 1,263,001 
			 All claiming for over 12 months 570 1,455 20,305 309,815 
			  
			 2000 
			 All claimants 2,625 6,058 73,363 1,102,257 
			 All Claiming for over 12 months 560 1,435 16,680 243,385 
			  
			 2001 
			 All claimants 2,377 5,540 63,852 982,998 
			 All claiming for over 12 months 510 1,295 13,365 191,335 
			  
			 2002 
			 All claimants 2,273 5,207 59,026 958,759 
			 All Claiming for over 12 months 410 1,045 10,390 154,440 
			  
			 2003 
			 All claimants 1,986 4,588 53,808 945,894 
			 All claiming for over 12 months 320 815 7,960 141,220 
			  
			 2004 
			 All claimants 1,742 4,078 47,093 866,144 
			 All claiming for over 12 months 265 665 6,445 135,000 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Unemployment

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many young unemployed people there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how many people were unemployed in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 2001;
	(3)  how many long-term unemployed people there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 2001.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 23 March 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about unemployment in Shrewsbury and Atcham Parliamentary Constituency. (223183, 223154, 223155)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions. Table 1 provides the requested information for the twelve-month periods ending in February each year from 2001 to 2004.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including Parliamentary Constituencies. Table 2 gives the annual average number of JSA claimants, the total claiming for over 12 months and those aged 18 to 24 years claiming Jobseeker's Allowance benefits resident in the Shrewsbury and Atcham Parliamentary Constituency for each year since 2001.
	
		Table 1: Unemployed people resident in Shrewsbury and Atcham parliamentary constituency
		
			 12 months ending February each year All unemployed1 Long-term2 unemployed Youth3 unemployed 
		
		
			 2001 2000 (13)— (13)— 
			 2002 2000 (13)— 1000 
			 2003 1000 (13)— 1000 
			 2004 2000 (13)— 1000 
		
	
	(10) Refers to all those aged 16 plus who are unemployed.
	(11) Refers to those unemployed for more than 12 months.
	(12) Refers to those aged 16–24 who are unemployed.
	(13) Estimate not given to protect individuals' confidentiality.
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS—Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Shrewsbury and Atcham parliamentary constituency
		
			 Annual averages All claimants All claiming for over 12 months Youth claimants (aged 18–24) 
		
		
			 2001 970 150 220 
			 2002 806 105 185 
			 2003 818 75 200 
			 2004 765 65 205 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

DEFENCE

Defence Service Agencies (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Defence Communications Services Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and what the figures were in 2003–04.

Adam Ingram: The number of personnel in the Defence Communication Services Agency as of 3 February is 4,820, of whom 140 are based in Scotland. For 2003–04, the overall number of personnel was 4,680, of whom 120 personnel were based in Scotland. The total costs for personnel for 2003–04 was £161.520 million.
	Both civilian and Service personnel data by Agency are collated annually at 1 April and presented in Table 2.6 of UK Defence Statistics, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. Further information on personnel figures is available on the DASA website at www.dasa.mod.uk
	The number of Service personnel employed by Agency and location is not collated centrally. However, locally held records were available and have been included.
	A table showing numbers of civilian personnel by MOD Agency, for the Agency as a total and those employed in Scotland specifically, for the period 1 April 1997 to 1 January 2005, has also been published on the Defence Analytical Services Agency website, www.dasa.mod.uk, and is also lodged in the Library of the House.
	Personnel numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.

Departmental Finances

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's SR 2004 Departmental Submission.

Adam Ingram: No, as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
	Information relevant to the outcome of Spending Review negotiations can, however, be found in the Ministry of Defence's SR 2004 settlement as set out in Chapter 13 of the 2004 Spending Review document (Cm 6237), with further detail on forward defence plans in Delivering Security in a Changing World—Future Capabilities" (Cm 6269).

Departmental Finances

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of receipts from asset sales that were (a) appropriated in aid of his Department and (b) surrendered to the Consolidated Fund in each financial year since 1997–98.

Adam Ingram: The amounts included in Appropriations-in-Aid and those surrendered to the Consolidated Fund in respect of fixed asset disposals for the years commencing 1999–2000 are shown in the table. The figures are based on the published Resource Accounts of the Department, the first set of which was published for the year 1999–2000. Information in respect of years 1997–98 and 1998–99 is included in the Appropriation Accounts of the respective years; these are available in the Library of the House.
	
		Disposal of fixed assets
		
			 £000 
			   Appropriations-in-Aid Surrendered to Consolidated Fund 
		
		
			 1999–2000 234,862 (14)— 
			 2000–01 317,987 (14)— 
			 2001–02 299,589 22,557 
			 2002–03 360,555 44,300 
			 2003–04 481,298 125,927 
		
	
	(14) This information was not recorded in the Resource Accounts for these years. Any amounts surrendered to the Consolidated Fund would have been included in the Appropriation Accounts, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
	The amounts shown for Appropriations-in-Aid for the year 2003–04 represent receipts on sale of fixed assets; in prior years asset disposals were required to be stated in the Departmental Resource Accounts at their net book value in accordance with HM Treasury Resource Accounting Manual.
	The above figures do not include the disposal in respect of sale of shares in QinetiQ, a public corporation. This resulted in a receipt of £39,427,000 which was surrendered to the Consolidated Fund.

Fighter Aircraft

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the next generation of the strategic fighter aircraft to be operational; and where it will be based.

Adam Ingram: The Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) is expected to enter service towards the middle of the next decade. As I announced on 10 March 2005, there are five RAF Stations currently being considered as its potential bases: RAF Cottesmore, RAF Marham, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF St. Mawgan and RAF Leeming.

IT Contracts

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to (a) Computer Sciences Corporation and (b) EDS in each of the last seven years.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Mutual Defence Agreement

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running costs of the Atomic Co-ordinating Offices in London and Washington established under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement were in the last year for which figures are available; and how many staff are employed in the offices.

Adam Ingram: The annual running costs of the Atomic Control Office, London and the Atomic Co-ordinating Office, Washington are some £72,000 and some £400,000 respectively. The numbers of staff employed in each office are three and five respectively.

Northern Ireland (Royal Navy)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) shore-based Royal Navy personnel are stationed in Northern Ireland and (b) ship-based personnel are assigned to duty in Northern Ireland, broken down by rank.

Adam Ingram: The total strength of shore-based Royal Navy personnel stationed in Northern Ireland as at 21 March 2005 is 31 (5 Officers, 26 Ratings), 10 of whom are full-time RN staff administering HMS Caroline, a Royal Naval Reserve Establishment.
	The total number of ship-based Royal Navy personnel currently assigned to duty in Northern Ireland is 107 (19 Officers, 88 Ratings).

Parliamentary Questions

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the question tabled by the right hon. Member for Dumbarton on 10 December 2004, reference 204981, on cash machines.

Adam Ingram: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 26 January 2005, Official Report, column 332W.

Regiments

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress the future (a) Mercia, (b) Yorkshire, (c) Scottish and (d) Welsh regiments are making on decisions on (i) cap badges, (ii) rank slides, (iii) belt buckles and (iv) mess dress.

Adam Ingram: A joint formation committee will be set up for each of the new regiments being created under the future infantry structure. Each committee will be made up of representatives from the respective antecedent regiments. They will consider regimental dress and accoutrement regulations and how each of the antecedent regiments will be represented.
	It is anticipated that these committees will report during the second half of 2005. Recommendations on dress will need executive approval from the Army Dress Committee before any announcement is finalised.

Regiments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place on regimental (a) funds and (b) silverware for each of the three regiments due for merger into the King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment.

Adam Ingram: A committee of representatives from The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, The King's Regiment and The Queen's Lancashire Regiment will be formed to consider how each of the antecedent regiments can be best represented following their amalgamation into the King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment. As part of its remit, this committee will consider future plans for regimental funds and silverware.
	It is anticipated that the committee's recommendations will be presented to the colonels of regiments during the second half of 2005 for executive approval. As the majority of regimental assets are held in charitable trusts, the management of which are controlled by trustees in accordance with their charter, any proposals will be subject to Charity Commission approval.

Regiments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what name for the new regiment in the North West was put to the Army Board by the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

Adam Ingram: Responsibility for putting advice to the Executive Committee of the Army Board rested, as with all Divisions of Infantry, with the Colonel Commandant of the King's Division, rather than with any individual regiment within the Division. A number of options were considered within the Division during the consultation process, and a flavour of the debate was exposed to ECAB. In the event, 'The King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment' was endorsed by ECAB as the name for the new regiment and recommended to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, which he accepted.

Short-term Plans

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library his Department's short-term plans since financial year 1997–98.

Adam Ingram: There is no single formal document that constitutes the Department's short-term plan. The output of the short-term planning round is a set of detailed planning assumptions and financial data which forms part of internal advice to senior management and Ministers on the overall affordability of the defence programme. It is not in a readily publishable form.
	A summary of the outcome of the planning process is, however, set out in the Government's expenditure plans for the Ministry of Defence. A table of the Department's plans produced since 1997–98 is provided as follows.
	
		
			  CM 
		
		
			 1997–98 to 1999–2000 3602 
			 1998–99 3902 
			 1999–2000 to 2001–02 4208 
			 2000–01 to 2001–02 4608 
			 2001–02 to 2003–04 5109 
			 2002–03 to 2003–04 5412 
		
	
	Additionally, documents produced since 1999–2000 are available at http://www.mod.uk/publications/mod_reports.htm.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal By-Products Regulation

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued to officials on carrying out risk assessments before applying the Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 to Intermediary Plants.

Ben Bradshaw: There is extensive guidance available to State Veterinary Service (SVS) officials on the inspection and approval of Intermediate Plants. This guidance was produced in consultation with experienced Veterinary Officers from the SVS. In addition, officials have access to the same guidance we have produced for Intermediate Plant operators, and guidance on the loading and unloading of animal by-products. However, while there is a need to assess any risks to public or animal health, the main purpose of the inspections is to ensure that the Intermediate Plant complies with the requirements of the Animal By-Products Regulation. The instructions to vets therefore focus the legal requirements in order to ensure that the regulation is applied consistently across the country.

Avian Influenza

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department is giving to poultry farmers on Avian Influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department undertook a publicity campaign about the potential threat from Avian Influenza to the poultry industry in October 2003 explaining the possible threat and highlighting the clinical signs that owners should look out for. This advice is on the Defra website together with advice on biosecurity and human health and safety issues.
	Officials are meeting with sections of the industry this month and will ensure that they are kept up to date on relevant aspects of avian flu.

Farm Animal Welfare Council

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council report, with particular reference to the report's recommendations on Schechita.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government issued their final response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) report on the Welfare of Farmed Animals at Slaughter or Killing on the 8 March 2005. In the response, the Government accepts 53 of the 94 recommendations made by FAWC, partially accepts 25, and rejects 16: the recommendations accepted by Government will lead to significant improvements in animal welfare.
	The Government did not accept FAWC's recommendation that slaughter without prior stunning should be banned, as we respect the rights of communities in Britain to slaughter animals in accordance with the requirements of their religion.

Farm Animal Welfare Council

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Schechita UK following publication of her Department's response to recommendations by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government published their final response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) report on the Welfare of Farmed Animals at Slaughter or Killing on the 8 March 2005. Defra has not had any discussions with Shechita UK following publication.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many premises during the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak culling took place of (a) cattle, (b) sheep, (c) pigs and (d) other animals under the (i) infected premises, (ii) dangerous contact, (iii) slaughter on suspicion and (iv) contiguous cull schemes then operating, broken down by (A) county and (B) region; how many samples were taken; and how many positive tests were found at each premises.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 4 March 2005
	The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many instances of (a) inaccurate valuations, (b) deliberate spreading of infection and (c) claims for work not undertaken in all completed prosecutions instituted against individuals and companies for fraudulent claims arising from the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 March 2005
	The information requested is as follows.
	Inaccurate valuations:
	It is not clear what is meant by 'inaccurate valuations'. We did carry out a full reconciliation of all compensation payments following the outbreak. Any amendments or recalculations were done and additional payments made or overpayments recovered as appropriate. We do not have a record of each claim that was affected in this way.
	The value of an animal is a subjective decision made by professionally qualified valuers, who have sight of the animal and a full knowledge of the herd/flock history as well as experience of the livestock industry. Once the valuation is agreed by the valuer, the farmer and the supervising Ministry official we are legally obliged to pay the agreed amount. There have been observations made that our control over the valuation process was poor and that this contributed to higher than necessary compensation payments. We have accepted this and improved our approach to valuations for a future outbreak.
	Deliberate spreading of infection:
	No formal assessment of whether farmers or anyone else deliberately sought to introduce foot and mouth disease (FMD) in order to claim compensation took place. There were many media reports at the time of allegations that such mischief was taking place. Three files where allegations were investigated in 2001 have been traced and the allegation and outcomes are summarised as follows:
	File A—on investigation this allegation of deliberate infection amounted solely to repetition by an unidentified man to a part-time journalist and recorded by the part-time journalist on tape of rumours that were then prevalent about deliberate infection. The unidentified man said
	tails from infected animals are placed in uninfected areas to spread the disease".
	The part-time journalist refused to reveal the identity of his source so the investigation could not be taken any further.
	File B—an anonymous voice-message in an Irish accent left on a mobile phone asked the recipient to supply
	animals infected with BSE and FMD"
	turned out to be a prank from the caller. This was admitted by the prankster when he was traced by an Investigation Officer. The prankster also admitted he had dialled the wrong number and the prank was intended for a friend rather than the recipient of the call.
	File C—Farmer A's cattle were slaughtered as they had been in contact with FMD. He was compensated. He bought some more cattle from Farmer B but left them on Farmer B's land for the time being. Farmer A's replacement cattle and Farmer B's own cattle contracted FMD. Both were compensated. The matter was investigated as it seemed very suspicious. There was no evidence of any deliberate misconduct but poor bio-security by Farmer A, who visited the cattle on three occasions, was identified as a possible cause of the transmission of FMD.
	Completed prosecutions for fraud arising out of fraudulent claims for compensation:
	Six people were prosecuted by Defra for fraud offences in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001:
	Three members of staff were prosecuted and pleaded guilty to making false subsistence claims and were ordered to complete Community punishment orders and to pay compensation to Defra totalling £5,883. All three were dismissed.
	Three farmers were prosecuted for making false compensation claims; one farmer pleaded guilty to falsely stating the cost of feed and was fined £3,500, two other farmers were acquitted—it was alleged that both had falsely overclaimed for equipment destroyed or premises damaged during the FMD outbreak.

Fox Control

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of urban foxes which were (a) trapped, (b) poisoned and (c) otherwise destroyed by local authorities in England as part of their pest control or public health functions in the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not made any assessment of the number of urban foxes which were (a) trapped, (b) poisoned and (c) otherwise destroyed by local authorities in England.
	However, there are no pesticides approved for poisoning foxes so to do so would be unlawful. Any foxes suspected of being poisoned should be reported to Defra's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme on freephone 0800 321 600.

Fox Control

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods local authorities in England are permitted to use to dispose of (a) dead foxes that have been poisoned or otherwise destroyed and (b) live foxes which have been trapped as part of pest control or public health procedures.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no specific controls on the disposal of either (a) dead or (b) live foxes.
	However, dead foxes could be considered 'waste' within the Waste Framework Directive. As such they should be disposed of in ways which protect the environment and human health.
	Any wild foxes that are suspected of being infected with diseases communicable to humans or animals must be disposed of in accordance with the Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.
	Defra does not condone the live capture of foxes and their release elsewhere, although the practice is not unlawful. There are no controls on specific methods regarding the translocation of live foxes but the methods used must not contravene animal legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Protection of Animals Act 1911 or Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.
	There are no pesticides approved for poisoning foxes therefore to do so would be unlawful. Any foxes suspected of being poisoned should be reported to Defra's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme on freephone 0800 321 600.

Fox Control

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the local authorities in England which manage or control urban fox populations as part of their pest control or public health functions.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no obligation on local authorities in England to control urban fox populations or to report any such control to Defra. Therefore the Department has no such list.

Fox Control

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Department has made of the population of urban foxes in England.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not made any estimate of the population of urban foxes in England.

Greenways

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many kilometres of greenways there are in England; how many greenways and similar projects are planned; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency set up six 'pilot greenway projects' in England between 1999 and 2002, which together totalled a distance of approximately 60 km (37 miles). The Countryside Agency defined Greenways" as a
	"network of largely car-free, off-road routes connecting people to facilities and open spaces in and around towns and counties and to the countryside. For shared use by people of all abilities on foot, bike or horseback, for commuting play or leisure".
	The Agency's aim was to build on existing facilities and routes and was aimed at providing:
	Improved access to employment, shops, schools, leisure centres and places of interest.
	Inter-connecting links between communities.
	Continuity of routes.
	Encouragement to increase cycling, walking and horse riding.
	An improved environment—less traffic congestion and pollution.
	Attractive routes for leisure and recreational purposes.
	The Agency wished to link Greenways" to other networks for non-motorised users such as the National Cycle Network, towpaths beside inland waterways, and National Trials. They include stretches of 'quiet' minor roads designed to be more attractive for people on bikes, horseback or walking.
	The Countryside Agency has suggested to local authorities that through the introduction of their 'Rights of Way Improvement Plans', they could identify further routes and develop further integration with public transport, as part of the effort to reverse the trend for increasing reliance on the private car for the journey to work.

Middle East (Imports)

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the (a) viability, (b) social impact and (c) economic impact of quality requirements for Middle Eastern produce imports; when this assessment was last reviewed; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has not carried out any such assessment.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Housing

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of the 15,000 homes to be built under the First Time Buyers Initiative he expects to be completed by 31 March 2008.

Keith Hill: Current estimates suggest that there could be up to 4,000 completions under the First Time Buyers Initiative by the end of 2008.
	English Partnerships are continuing to develop the business model that will underpin the delivery of homes under the scheme, and this estimate is subject to revision.
	However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in conjunction with English Partnerships, is committed to delivering 15,000 starts on site under the First Time Buyers Initiative by 2010.

Housing

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish the consultation paper on the Social Homebuy scheme.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister plans to publish a consultation paper on low cost home ownership, including proposals for an expanded Homebuy scheme, shortly.

Housing

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimates have been made of the (a) expenditure on and (b) number of homes to be built under the Department's housing programmes in (i) the London borough of Enfield, (ii) Greater London and (iii) England in each year from 2005–06 to 2009–10; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: For 2005–06 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently estimates that around 45,000 homes will be provided for rent or low cost home ownership in England. The principal source of funding is the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme which will spend around £1.65 billion.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to provide around £782 million for new rent and low cost home ownership homes for London in 2005–06 this will assist in providing around 8,000 homes. Estimates for Enfield are not available.
	The regional allocations of the £5.5 billion for Regional Housing Pot for spending in 2006–07 and 2007–08 were announced yesterday. Nearly £2.3 billion has been allocated to London. Decisions on the amount of these resources to be used for affordable housing will be taken in the summer in the light of advice from Regional Housing Boards. Allocations for individual authorities will be agreed in early 2006 following the ADP bidding round.
	Future funding and delivery of outputs from 2008–09 will be dependent upon the outcome of the next Spending Review in 2006.

Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of the capital receipts generated from the Right to Buy in with-debt local authorities in 2003–04 and available to spend on capital investment was (a) spent on refurbishing existing housing and (b) loaned to a registered social landlord to build new social housing under the Local Authority Social Housing Grant mechanism.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the way in which with-debt local authorities used the proportion of the capital receipt arising from a Right to Buy disposal which they retained.

Housing

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2005, Official Report, columns 90–92W, how many of the homes to be provided for rent in 2005–06 will be funded through (a) the Approved Development Programme, (b) the Approved Development Programme Challenge Fund, (c) Transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant, (d) the expanded Private Finance Initiative, (e) planning gain without public subsidy and (f) other funding streams.

Keith Hill: The following table shows current estimates of the number of homes to be provided for rent in 2005–06 by the various categories requested.
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 (a) Approved Development Programme 20,000 
			 (b) Approved Development Programme Challenge Fund 700 
			 (c) Transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant 2,200 
			 (d) Private Finance Initiative 500 
			 (e) Planning gain without public subsidy 1,300 
			 (f) Other funding streams 800 
		
	
	Estimates for sections (a) -(c) are based on Housing Corporation data as at 18 March. The reduction in the total estimate is due solely to a lower estimate in Transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant completions for 2005–06 and reflects detailed timing of outputs.

Local Compacts

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role the Local Compacts with the voluntary and community sector will play in delivering his Department's five-year programme, 'Sustainable Communities: People, places and prosperity'.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supports the Compact Action Plan target for all areas to develop a local compact as a framework within which the voluntary and community sector can work in partnership with other local stakeholders for the benefit of local people. The detail of how each local compact can assist in delivering the various policies and programmes outlined in 'Sustainable Communities: People, places and prosperity' is for local stakeholders to agree.

Renewable Energy

David Chaytor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's assessment is of the contribution that solar photovoltaics can make to reducing carbon emissions in new build housing built to latest Part L Building Regulations.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has determined that solar photovoltaic generating systems are not yet cost-effective. They were not, therefore, specifically mentioned in the Part L consultation document last year as being appropriate to the achievement of reasonable provision in compliance with the Building Regulations.
	The Part L proposals include setting minimum overall building performance standards at levels much higher than at present and providing new technical guidance on low and zero carbon systems. PV is not ruled out and remains one of the technologies that builders can choose to adopt to comply with the regulations.

Renewable Energy

David Chaytor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will extend permitted development status to the installation of small scale renewables by householders, subject to adequate controls to ensure no or minimal visual intrusion; if he will make representations to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to include this measure in the draft microgeneration strategy due to be published shortly, pursuant to section 82 of the Energy Act 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: In January, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister launched a review of the legislation that governs minor development by householders. Meanwhile, it is already the case that, as a general rule, those in dwellinghouses can install solar panels and photovoltaic cells without needing to make a planning application, provided the panels do not project significantly above the plane of the roof.
	Where a planning application is required, Planning Policy Statement 22, Renewable Energy, urges local planning authorities and developers to consider renewable energy projects in all new developments. There are opportunities for installing solar panels, photovoltaic cells, biomass heating, small wind turbines, and combined heat and power schemes in a great many new—and some existing—buildings. Authorities should encourage such technologies through policies in local development documents.

Supporting People Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his plans are for funding the Supporting People Programme over the next five years.

Yvette Cooper: Funding for the Supporting Programme is £1.72 billion in 2005–06, £1.7 billion in 2006–07 and £1.7 billion in 2007–08.
	From the inception of the Supporting People programme it has been the intention to move away from the inherited distribution of funding, to ensure that funding better reflects relative need. It was recognised at the outset that services had grown up in an ad hoc way and whiles many quality services were in existence there was a need to develop a programme that would allow for a more structured approach to be adopted across the country.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is developing a needs based formula for the distribution of Supporting People funding in the longer term. We are working with local authority representative bodies and will consult widely on a revised version later this year. The extent of the increases or reductions in grant to Authorities and the rate at which they are introduced will form part of the contribution.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will monitor the impact on Administering Authorities of introducing any new needs based distribution formula.

Supporting People Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to the way funds are allocated to Supporting People from a historically based allocation formula to a needs based one on the level of support housing units provided in West Sussex.

Yvette Cooper: The Government commissioned an Independent Review into the Supporting People programme following significant late growth in estimated costs from £1.4 billion in December 2002 to £1.8 billion by March 2003. The Review reported that there are wide variations in unit costs between authorities and that £1.8 billion was too much to pay for the services provided.
	Service packages work and Audit Commission inspections demonstrate that there is significant potential for making efficiency savings in the current pattern of service provision while safeguarding valuable services. Where authorities face reductions in grant as a result of moving to a pattern which better reflects needs we expect them to use the service review process to achieve these savings.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with local authority representatives on the development of a needs based formula for the distribution of Supporting People funding in the longer term. We will consult widely on a revised version later this year, including on the extent of increases or reductions in grants to authorities and the rate at which they are introduced. West Sussex will be invited to contribute to that consultation.

Supporting People Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people currently benefit from Supporting People in West Sussex.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates that the Supporting People programme in West Sussex currently funds housing related support services to approximately 12,000 individuals and households.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

European Union (International Sport)

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with EU counterparts regarding the establishment of an EU identity in international sport.

Richard Caborn: Neither I, nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have had any discussions with our EU counterparts regarding the establishment of an EU identity in international sport.

Regional Sports Boards

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Regional Sports Boards.

Richard Caborn: As part of the overall restructuring of both Sport England and the delivery of sport in England, the nine Regional Sports Boards (RSBs) were reconstituted to determine for each region the targets that will deliver the national objective to increase participation in sport and physical activity. Since their reconstitution, each RSB has fulfilled this role by publishing its regional plan for sport and setting out its investment priorities. On the basis of these priorities, RSBs have budgeted in 2004–05 to make awards from Sport England's Community Investment Fund worth some £120 million.

Regional Sports Boards

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total public expenditure on Regional Sports Boards has been in each year since their creation.

Richard Caborn: Regional Sports Boards were reconstituted in their current form as part of Sport England's modernisation process and took responsibility for the distribution of Sport England's Community Investment Fund in April 2004. Details of their planned public expenditure (Exchequer and Lottery) in 2004–05 are provided in the table.
	
		£000
		
			 Region Awards distributed Direct delivery costs Other running costs Total 
		
		
			 East 9,128 39 989 10,156 
			 East Midlands 14,868 44 1,041 15,953 
			 London 12,802 60 1,066 13,927 
			 North East 11,915 46 930 12,891 
			 North West 26,849 74 1,249 28,172 
			 South East 14,514 51 1,333 15,899 
			 South West 10,394 38 952 11,384 
			 West Midlands 13,183 46 1,061 14,290 
			 Yorkshire 9,054 44 1,022 10,120

Sports Institutes

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost was, including match funding, of the capital facilities that form the UK's network of sports institutes.

Richard Caborn: Sport England has provided just over £132 million of Lottery funding towards the English Institute of Sport's capital facilities. Sport England estimates that their funding represents approximately 87.5 per cent. of the total cost of the capital facilities with a further 12.5 per cent. (some £19 million) of the cost met by matched funding. Funding for the Scottish Institute of Sport, Sports Institute Northern

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Abolition of Slavery (Commemoration)

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.

Derek Twigg: The 200th anniversary commemoration provides a useful focus for schools to enrich curriculum work on slavery through opportunities in History and Citizenship education. The DfES and DCMS are jointly funding the Slavery, Society and Port Cities" project aimed at engaging schoolchildren and teachers to utilise the unique contribution that slavery-related cultural resources bring to the debate on cultural identity and diversity.

Adult Education

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expected average change in adult education course fees over the next two years is.

Ivan Lewis: Further education colleges and local authorities will retain considerable discretion in the setting of fees for adults in 2005/06. There will be no change in the fee concessions arrangements in further education that help unemployed people, those on income based benefits, and retired people and working families on low incomes, to access learning. Learners will also continue to have access to literacy, numeracy and English language courses free of charge. We will continue to make a very significant contribution to further and adult education although our assumption will remain that adults should continue to contribute to the costs of their learning unless otherwise eligible for fee concessions. Changes to the Learning and Skills Council's further education funding methodology fee assumption in 2005/06 mean that the learner contribution to the cost of their learning will increase from 25 per cent. to 27.5 per cent. of the basic course cost. Decisions about funding arrangements for 2006/07 have yet to be made.

Adult Education

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what safeguards are planned to protect adult education classes that do not teach basic skills.

Ivan Lewis: The Government are committed to safeguarding learning for personal fulfilment which does not necessarily lead to qualifications. The Learning and Skills Council's budget for such learning, delivered though local education authorities, increased from £206 million in 2003–04 to £207.4 million in 2004–05 compared with £145 million in 2000–01. My Department will shortly be receiving proposals from the Learning and Skills Council on how to meet this safeguard in the long term while ensuring a fair distribution of public funding between geographical areas.

Adult Education

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes she is proposing to make to adult education classes.

Ivan Lewis: My Department will shortly receive initial proposals from the Learning and Skills Council on the reform of the Funding and. Planning arrangements for First Steps and Personal and Community Development Learning for Adults. This follows a full public consultation last year to which the Learning and Skills Council received nearly 300 replies including from individuals, local education authorities and further education colleges. The objectives are: to maintain the safeguard for the continued availability of courses for Personal and Community Development; to ensure an equitable distribution of public funding between geographical areas; and a proper balance between public funding, and financial contributions by individuals to the cost of their own learning.

Adult Education

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to improve provision of adult education.

Ivan Lewis: On March 22 we published our White Paper setting out our policies and progress in improving adult education and skills—entitled Skills : Getting on in business, getting on at work". It set out the key measures we have taken in this area, including creation of the new network of Sector Skills Councils and the successful Employer Training Pilots, both of which create a powerful new employer-led direction to skills provision. It also announced our plans for further improving adult provision, including the roll out of the National Employer Training Programme, the creation of new Skills Academies to deliver training in each sector, the national roll-out of the entitlement to free tuition to NVQ Level 2, and an improved and extended service to deliver advice and guidance on careers, training and support.

Adult Education

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost per student was at current prices of providing Level 3 courses for adults at further education colleges in each year since 1997–98; what the Government's contribution was per student; and what her estimate is for (a) 2004–05 and (b) each of the next two years.

Kim Howells: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The costs of providing Level 3 courses for adults at further education colleges are set by the LSC and as such the Department does not collect or hold the information requested.
	Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's Chief Executive will write to my hon. Friend with details of what the average cost per student was at current prices of providing Level 3 courses for adults at further education colleges in each year since 1997–98; what the Government's contribution was per student; and what his estimate is for (a) 2004–05 and (b) each of the next two years. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Library.

Adult Education

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether her Department will fully fund courses for adults at Level 3 in further education colleges in 2005–06;
	(2)  whether she expects fees for adults for courses above Level 2 in further education colleges to rise in 2005–06; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: It is our policy to ensure that those groups of people benefiting from fully funded further education provision will continue to do so. We will continue to provide fee concessions arrangements that help unemployed people, those on income-based benefits, and retired people and working families on low incomes, to access further education. We will continue to make substantial levels of public funding available to all which covers the largest part of the cost of courses but we also expect adult learners, who can afford to do so, to make a contribution to the costs of their learning. Those people already qualified at Level 2, or not in one of our priority groups, will on average pay a higher fee contribution in 2005–06 unless they qualify for fee concessions.

Adult Education

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her plans are for future fee levels for adults studying at Level 2 and Level 3 at further education colleges in Cornwall in the next three years.

Kim Howells: We will continue to make substantial levels of public funding available to all learners which covers the largest part of the cost of courses but we also expect adult learners, who can afford to do so, to make a contribution to the costs of their learning. Those people already qualified at Level 2, or who are not in one of our priority groups, will on average pay a higher fee contribution in 2005–06 unless they qualify for fee concessions. Colleges will retain considerable discretion to set fees and offer additional concessions. Decisions about funding arrangements for 2006–07 have yet to be made.

Adult Education

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to introduce concessionary fees for those aged over 60 years who wish to study in a further education college in Cornwall.

Kim Howells: In addition to the significant publicly funded provision available to all learners, older people will continue to be eligible for concessions funded by my Department through the Learning and Skills Council if they are receiving an income based benefit such as housing benefit or council tax benefit, and they may be eligible for fee concessions if they are receiving the pension credit. Learners of any age will also have access to literacy, numeracy and English language courses free of charge. Colleges in Cornwall will retain considerable discretion in setting fees, and although we want colleges to raise more of the income they voluntarily forgo, we have no plans to stop colleges offering additional concessions if appropriate.

Adult Education

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding she has in place for adults studying at Level 3 at further education colleges in each local education authority area.

Kim Howells: The Department funds provision at Level 3 through the Learning and Skills Council's learning participation budget which is £6.7 billion for 2005–06. In 2003–04, the Learning and Skills Council funded 465,000 adult learners at Level 3, at a cost of some £417 million. A further £367 million was spent on over 100,000 young people on Level 3 advanced apprenticeships. Our new Skills White Paper outlines our commitment to increasing support at this level. Information about adult budgets by local education authority area is not held centrally.

Adult Education

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to ensure that fee concessions remain in place for those aged over 60 years who study in further education colleges.

Kim Howells: Older people will continue to be eligible for concessions funded by my Department through the Learning and Skills Council if they are receiving an income-based benefit such as housing benefit or council tax benefit, and they may be eligible for fee concessions if they are receiving the pension credit. Learners of any age will also have access to literacy, numeracy and English language courses free of charge. Colleges will continue to have considerable discretion in setting fees, and although we want colleges to raise more of the income they voluntarily forgo, we have no plans to stop colleges offering additional concessions if appropriate.

Child Poverty

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020 and (b) halving it by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 March 2005
	The Government set out the steps that departments across Government are taking to achieve the targets of ending child poverty by 2020 and halving it by 2010 in the Child Poverty Review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review and available at
	http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spend_sr04/associated_documents/spending_sr04_childpoverty.cfm.

Departmental Accounts

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether Ministers in her Department have issued written instructions to override her Department's accounting officer's objections since 1997.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 80W.

Departmental Dress Code

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 18 March 2005
	My Department's commitment not to discriminate unfairly on the grounds of religion or belief is set out clearly in its equal opportunities policy. Accordingly, the Department's policies do permit the wearing of the Kirpan by its Sikh employees.

Engineering (Women Students)

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase the number of women students undertaking (a) further education and (b) higher education in engineering.

Kim Howells: The details of our plans to increase women's participation in science and engineering across the education sector are set out in the Government's 'Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–2014', published jointly last July by my Department, DTI and HM Treasury.
	The Government's overall ambitions are to achieve a step change in: the quality of science teachers and lecturers in every school, college and university; the results for students studying science at GCSE level; the numbers choosing SET subjects in post-16 education and in higher education; and the proportion of better qualified students pursuing R and D careers.

English Examinations (Key Stage 3)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to ensure the timely validation of Key Stage 3 examinations in English in 2005.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 21 March 2005
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's National Assessment Agency (NAA), which is responsible for test administration, has awarded the 2005 contract for test marking and data collection to Pearson Assessment and Testing. NAA is working closely with Pearson to ensure that all lessons learnt from 2004 will be fed into improving test delivery in 2005.
	However the review of 2004 test delivery conducted by the QCA led them to conclude that extra time is needed to mark Key Stage 3 English tests and validate results. This means that the 2005 Key Stage 3 Achievement and Attainment tables are unlikely to be published before March 2006.

Examination Results

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the examination results were in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 of the three non-selective state secondary schools nearest to each of the academies opened in (i) September 2002 and (ii) September 2003.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	
		
			GCSE and equivalent (percentage) Post 16 
			2004 2003 2004 2003 
			 School name Distance from academy (miles) Age range 5+ A*-C 5+ A*-C APS per entry APS per candidate APS per entry APS per candidate 
		
		
			 Academies opening in school year 2003/04 
			 Walsall Academy — 11–18 50 (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 
			 Frank F Harrison Community School 1.2 11–18 48 25 140.0 52.2 124.4 50.5 
			 Sheffield Sports and Community College 1.4 11–18 40 33 246,4 68.6 283.1 79.1 
			 Sneyd Community School 2.0 11–18 41 35 253.5 67.0 242.6 64.5 
			 Manchester Academy — 11–16 8 (15)— — — — — 
			 Trinity CofE High School 0.4 11–16 61 70 — — — — 
			 Whalley Range 11–18 High School and Business and Enterprise College 1.3 11–18 58 46 209.0 73.8 202.2 71.8 
			 St. Peters RC High School 1.6 11–16 37 34 — — — — 
			 Djanogly City Academy Nottingham — 11–19 51 (15)— 127.8 54.8 (15)— (15)— 
			 Ellis Guilford School and Sports College 1.1 11–16 39 29 — — — — 
			 Elliott Durham School 1.2 11–16 18 15 — — — — 
			 The Nottingham Bluecoat School and Technology College 1.3 11–18 51 64 263.3 70.1 294.4 73.4 
			 Capital City Academy — 11–19 29 (15)— 81.1 32.4 (15)— (15)— 
			 Queens Park Community School 0.2 11–19 46 44 184.0 66.2 203.9 65.4 
			 Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College 0.5 11–18 64 63 241.8 76.4 260.4 78.8 
			 Cardinal Hinsley High School 0.7 11–19 18 27 135.0 63.0 62.1 27.2 
			 The City Academy of Bristol — 11–18 33 (15)— 97.3 42.4 (15)— (15)— 
			 Fairfield High School 1.1 11–16 43 55 — — — — 
			 St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School 1.2 11–16 41 27 — — — — 
			 Speedwell Technology College 1.5 11–18 23 31 159.4 55.9 107.5 49.6 
			 West London Academy — 11–18 35 (15)— 227.3 93.4 (15)— (15)— 
			 Northolt High School 0.7 11–18 34 52 216.4 70.1 239.2 71.4 
			 Greenford High School 1.0 11–19 63 63 222,1 69.5 219.7 67.0 
			 The Cardinal Wiseman Roman Catholic School 1.8 11–18 90 93 284.5 75.9 249.1 76.1 
			 City of London Academy (Southwark) 2 — 11–19 (15)— (15)— (15)— — — — 
			 Aylwin Girls' School 0.3 11–16 33 27 — — — — 
			 Walworth School 0.5 11–16 56 53 — — — — 
			 St. Michael's RC School 0.7 11–16 65 53 — — — — 
			 The Academy at Peckham — 11–18 12 (15)— (15)— — — — 
			 Aylwin Girls' School 1.0 11–16 33 27 — — — — 
			 Archbishop Michael Ramsey Technology College 1.1 11–18 36 35 167.3 58.4 135.8 49.1 
			 The St. Thomas the Apostle College 0.8 11–16 56 53 — — — — 
			 The King's Academy — 11–18 34 (15)— — — — — 
			 The Newlands Catholic School FCJ 1.4 11–16 43 48 — — — — 
			 King's Manor School, Specialist Sports College 1.6 11–16 37 31 — — — — 
			 St. David's Roman Catholic Technology College 1.6 11–16 34 46 — — — — 
			  
			 Academies opening in school year 2002/03 
			 Greig City Academy, Haringey — 11–18 25 35 (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 
			 Hornsey Secondary School for Girls 0.4 11–18 53 49 180.8 71.4 147.7 60.6 
			 Highgate Wood Secondary School 0.8 11–18 51 46 222.9 67.8 162.1 54.4 
			 Park View Academy 1.2 11–18 39 23 120.0 53.3 63.3 34,5 
			 The Business Academy Bexley — 11–18 34 21 (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 
			 Trinity School, Belvedere 1.4 11–18 47 39 188.3 69.3 258.5 84.7 
			 Erith School 2.0 11–18 34 40 184.0 70.4 165,3 62.8 
			 Welling School 2.1 11–18 36 32 179.8 65.4 165.7 54.2 
			 Unity City Academy — 11–18 17 16 (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 
			 Ormesby School 0.9 11–16 21 24 — — — — 
			 The Newlands Catholic School FCJ 1.5 11–16 43 48 — — — — 
			 King's Manor School, Specialist Sports College 2.1 11–16 37 31 — — — — 
		
	
	(15) For GCSE and Equivalent results this indicates that the institution was not published that year and for Post 16 that there were no entries for that institution.
	(16) GCSE/Post 16 results are not available as it had Year 7 pupils only.

Family Resolutions Pilot

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents have taken part in the Family Resolutions Pilot Project to date; and how many have accepted mediation services as part of the project.

Margaret Hodge: As at 15 March 25 cases, comprising 50 parents, have been referred to the Family Resolutions Pilot Project and six cases, comprising 12 parents, have attended the (CAFCASS-conducted) parent planning stage of the project.

FE Funding

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the funding gap between sixth-form colleges and school sixth-forms in each of the last three financial years.

Kim Howells: The Department's main measure for what the funding gap between school sixth-forms and further education colleges is the difference in funding rates for an AS/A2 qualification. In 2002/03 the difference was 10.5 per cent.
	For the academic year 2003/04, base funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth-forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. In 2004/05, funding rates for colleges meeting their targets increased by 5 per cent., while those for school sixth forms rose by 4 per cent. We expect to see this trend continue in the 2005/06 academic year.
	However, there is more to overall levels of funding than differences in funding rates and I acknowledge that there are other important differences between school and FE funding.

FE Funding

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on reducing the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges in Cambridge;
	(2)  what the reasons are for the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges in Cambridge; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Department does not have information on what the funding gap is between school sixth forms and further education colleges in Cambridge specifically.
	However, we have brought up funding levels for further education (FE) as we said we would, without penalising schools. The Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) funding rates per course in FE have been rising faster than school sixth forms and the gap has narrowed.
	Our policy has been to raise the level of funding for colleges, as and when we are able to secure the resources to do so.
	The current funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges is a direct consequence of the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act and the removal of the incorporated FE sector funding systems from local authority control. This resulted in a divergence from local authority systems which has resulted in funding level differences. These differences were made more apparent when all post-16 funding became the responsibility of the LSC in 2001.

FE Funding

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether she expects fees for courses above Level 2 for adults to rise in Cambridge in 2005–06;
	(2)  whether her Department will fully fund courses for adults at Level 3 in Cambridge in 2005–06.

Kim Howells: It is our policy to ensure that those groups of people benefiting from fully funded further education provision will continue to do so. We will continue to provide fee concessions arrangements that help unemployed people, those on income based benefits, and retired people and working families on low incomes, to access further education. We will continue to make substantial levels of public funding available to all which covers the largest part of the cost of courses, but we also expect adult learners, who can afford to do so, to make a contribution to the costs of their learning. Those people already qualified at Level 2, or not in one of our priority groups, will on average pay a higher fee contribution in 2005–06 unless they qualify for fee concessions.

FE Funding

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to ensure that fee concessions remain in place for those aged over 60 years who wish to study at a further education college in Cambridge.

Kim Howells: Older people will continue to be eligible for concessions funded by my Department through the Learning and Skills Council if they are receiving an income based benefit such as housing benefit or council tax benefit, and they may be eligible for fee concessions if they are receiving the pension credit. Learners of any age will also have access to literacy, numeracy and English language courses free of charge. Colleges in Cambridge will continue to have considerable discretion in setting fees and, although we want colleges to raise more of the income they voluntarily forgo, we have no plans to stop colleges offering additional concessions if appropriate.

FE Funding

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact in Leeds of moving Learning and Skills Council funding to (a) Basic Skills and (b) the National Employer Training Programme on (i) the funding of courses for adults at Level 3, (ii) fee concessions for students aged over 60 years wishing to study at further education colleges and (iii) the level of fees for courses above Level 2.

Kim Howells: The Government's Skills Strategy, reaffirmed in the White Paper published on 22 March, sets clear priorities for public funding to support the drive to ensure that employers have the skills they need to be successful, and individuals have the skills they need to be employable and personally fulfilled. These priorities include tackling the nation's legacy of low skills, with a drive to ensure that adults have the basic skills of literacy, numeracy and English language; and focussing the investment of public funds on helping individuals reach their first full Level 2 qualification. But the White Paper also recognises the importance of higher level skills, and sets out measures to strengthen support for provision at Level 3 and above. However, given that higher levels of qualifications have higher rates of return for employers and individuals, it is also important that this should be reflected in the relative contributions employers and individuals make to the costs of such training. The Learning and Skills Council has announced that its fee assumption will rise from 25 per cent. to 27.5 per cent. in 2005/06 with public funds continuing to meet at least 72.5 per cent. of learning costs. Young people, those studying basic skills or for a first Level 2 qualification will receive free tuition as will those people on income based benefits. We shall continue to offer fee concessions to older learners on income based benefits or who receive the pension (guarantee) credit.

Fischer Family Trust

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department has provided to the Fischer Family Trust in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not fund the Fischer Family Trust, but does contract with them for specific pieces of work. Financial records in the Department show that the following amounts have been paid to the Trust over the last five years:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 159,800 
			 2003–04 156,529.48 
			 2004–05 351,571.06

Former Independent Schools

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which formerly independent schools have joined the state sector in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local education authority and (b) school type.

Derek Twigg: The following schools were previously independent schools and joined the maintained sector in the years shown:
	
		
			  LEA School name Category 
		
		
			 2000 Brent Avigdor Hirsch Torah Temimah Primary Voluntary aided 
			 2001 Birmingham AI-Hijrah Secondary Voluntary aided 
			 2001 Bradford Feversham College Voluntary aided 
			 2004 Hackney Ruth Lunzer Lubavitch Jewish Girls Primary Voluntary aided 
			 2004 Bury Manchester Mesivta Secondary Voluntary aided 
			 2004 Wandsworth Gatton VA Primary Voluntary aided 
			 2005 to date Salford Beis Yaakov Jewish High Voluntary aided 
		
	
	No independent schools joined the maintained sector in 2002 or 2003.

Key Stage 3

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects the Key Stage 3 national results for 2004 to be validated.

Stephen Twigg: The 2004 Key Stage 3 test results were published on Thursday 17 March 2005 with the release of the Key Stage 3 Achievement and Attainment tables.
	The results published in the tables are based on data provided by the QCA's National Assessment Agency to the Department. Schools had the opportunity to check the accuracy of the data and, where reviews of marking have taken place, amend them as part of the tables checking exercise.

Looked After Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what work has been undertaken by the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate to improve the care of looked after children placed in private children's homes out of the area of the responsible authority.

Margaret Hodge: I understand from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCl) that the Commission is proposing to address this issue by strengthening the scrutiny of local authority commissioning processes. This could include a specific focus on:
	the quality of placements for individual children purchased by local authorities from children's homes;
	local authority benchmarking of children's homes in order to demonstrate value for money; and
	the geographical distribution of the children's homes commissioned by local authorities.
	In relation to out of authority placements, CSCl is also considering what further work is required to address the impact of high concentrations of children's homes on their local communities and the impact on children placed in those homes who may be poorly served by their placing authorities.

Medical Schools

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places there were at medical schools in each year since 1997; and how many applications there were in each of those years.

Kim Howells: The latest information for England is shown in the table. Information for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish medical schools is the responsibility of the devolved Administrations.
	
		Intake targets and applicants: Medical schools in England
		
			 Year of entry Intake targets Number of applicants(17) 
		
		
			 1997 3,594 12,348 
			 1998 3,614 12,061 
			 1999 3,890 11,168 
			 2000 4,200 10,191 
			 2001 4,574 10,141 
			 2002 5,033 11,897 
			 2003 5,707 15,077 
			 2004 5,777 18,041 
		
	
	(17) Includes any student who made at least one application for pre-clinical medicine.
	Source:
	Higher Education Funding Council for England (intake targets); Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (applicants).

Nursery Education

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free part-time nursery education places were available in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 2004–05.

Margaret Hodge: All four-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since September 1998. All three-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since April 2004.
	The available information on the numbers of free part-time early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in England is shown in the following table.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 39/2004 Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2004 (final)", which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	Provisional figures for 2005 are scheduled for release in April 2005.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(18) taken up 3 and 4-year-olds England.
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			 Position in January each year Maintained nursery and primary schools(19) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 3-year-olds Maintained nursery and primary schools(20) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total  4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1999 225,700 n/a 225,700 n/a n/a (21)593,800 
			 2004 215,300 (22)246,200 461,600 461,100 (23)110,000 571,200 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(18) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(19) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(20) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(21) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(22) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(23) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	Between 1999 and 2004, the number of free nursery education places taken up by four-year-olds decreased by 4 per cent. The number of four-year-olds in the population decreased by 7 per cent.

Office of Fair Access

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures will be used to monitor the performance of the Office of Fair Access in meetings its statutory objectives.

Kim Howells: The Director for Fair Access has statutory functions and duties under the Higher Education Act 2004, but no statutory objectives. In considering how successfully the Director fulfils his functions and duties we will look at his annual report; at any feedback, especially from higher education institutions and students; and in due course at the findings of the independent commission which will be set up to examine the first three years of operation of the variable fees arrangements in higher education.

School Buildings (South Derbyshire)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new classrooms have been built in South Derbyshire constituency since May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: This information is not held centrally.

School Staff (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) full-time teachers, (b) part-time teachers and (c) teaching assistants there were in schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham on (i) 1 May 2001, (ii) 7 June 2001 and (iii) the latest date for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: Information on the number of teachers and teaching assistants in service is collected in January of each year. The following table shows the number of teachers and teaching assistants in maintained schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency in January 2001 and 2004, the latest information available.
	
		Headcount and full time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistants
		
			  2001 2004 
		
		
			 Teachers   
			 Full-time 610 600 
			 Part-time 150 180 
			 FTE 660 670 
			 Teaching assistants 
			 FTE 220 380 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures include non-maintained special.
	2. Teaching Assistant figures include nursery assistants, special needs and support staff and minority ethnic pupil support staff.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual School Census.

Schools (Data)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the possible effects on school pupils' health and safety of inaccuracies and unreliability of school attendance data.

Derek Twigg: The health and safety of children is of course, paramount.
	The primary purpose of maintaining school attendance data is to record when pupils of compulsory school age attend education. As schools are required to conduct an assessment of potential risks to pupils' health and safety, they are likely to use school attendance data, along with other sources of information, to minimise any identified risks. The Department is not aware of any significant problems experienced by schools in meeting this requirement.
	The Department would want to know of any specific instances where inaccurate or unreliable attendance data contributed to the endangerment of pupils' well being.

Schools Funding (Lincolnshire)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department has provided to (a) North East Lincolnshire local education authority and (b) North Lincolnshire local education authority in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: Total funding includes funding via education formula spending/standard spending assessment and revenue grants allocated at an LEA level. It excludes the pensions transfer to EPS and the Learning and Skills Council, and is in real terms.
	Education formula spending is part of the wider local government finance system and is supported by council tax as well as central Government grant.
	
		Total funding (real terms), pupils aged 3–19 (£ million), North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire
		
			  Real terms, excluding pensions transfer to EFS and LSC in 2003–04 and 2004–05 
			  North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire 
		
		
			 1997–98 77.8 68.3 
			 1998–99 80.7 71.7 
			 1999–2000 84.6 75.2 
			 2000–01 93.0 82.1 
			 2001–02 97.0 85.0 
			 2002–03 98.0 86.4 
			 2003–04 100.6 90.6 
			 2004–05 102.8 93.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Price base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3–15 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	5. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an LEA, related funding no longer appears in the series.
	6. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	7. Status: 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Selective Education

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have (a) taken and (b) failed the 11-plus examination in each local education authority with a wholly selective secondary admissions system in each of the last eight years.

Stephen Twigg: The 11-plus examinations are a matter for the LEA and the Department does not collect this data centrally.

Sure Start

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what activities Sure Start programmes in Sefton are engaging in to increase (a) literacy, (b) speech and (c) language developments; and what results these activities have had;
	(2)  what services Sure Start programmes in Sefton are engaging in to care for new mothers, with particular reference to (a) post-natal depression clinics and (b) breast feeding groups and what results these services have produced.

Margaret Hodge: There are four Sure Start local programmes in Sefton; Sure Start Litherland, Bootle, Dell and Orvell was approved in 2000; Sure Start Seaforth and Bootle in 2001; Sure Start Southport in 2002 and Sure Start Netherton in 2003. Between them the four programmes provide services to 2,800 children under four and their families living within their catchment areas. The programmes deliver a wide range of services including: training in parenting skills; health services and outreach support to children and families in their own homes.
	Three of the four programmes have evaluated their activities as follows:
	Sure Start Litherland, Bootle and Orrell have a 'Start Right' group who encourage learning and education through play and group settings. This involves reading, writing, dialogic play and imaginative play. Parents with no concerns about their child's language development increased from 80 per cent. in 2001–02 to 88 per cent. in 2003–04.
	The community midwife provides breast feeding support sessions at birth, six weeks and 17 weeks. The take up of these sessions has gone up from 20 per cent. in 2002–03 to 23 per cent. in 2003–04 at birth; 4 per cent. to 10 per cent. at six weeks and 2 per cent. to 7 per cent. at 17 weeks.
	The number of women supported by the post-natal depression group rose from 12 in 2002–03 to 29 in 2003–04.
	Sure Start Seaforth and Bootle has established a mobile toy library and the early years workers provide practical support around early learning and play. Parents with no concern in relation to language development increased from 77 per cent. in 2001–02 to 79 per cent. in 2003–04.
	The community midwife provides breast feeding support sessions at birth, six weeks and 17 weeks. The take up of these sessions has gone up from 34.4 per cent. in 2002–03 to 37.9 per cent. in 2003–04 at birth; 8 per cent. to 13.9 per cent. at six weeks and 4 per cent. to 8.6 per cent. at 17 weeks.
	The number of women supported by post-natal depression group increased from 13 in 2002–03 to 30 women in 2003–04.
	Sure Start Southport appointed a children's library worker in April 2003 and between June and December 2003, 92 new members joined from the catchment area. Breast feeding and post-natal depression data is not available for this programme.
	Sure Start Netherton will provide their first report in September 2005.
	The programmes' funding for the current and future years is as follows:
	
		£
		
			   Revenue 
			 Programme name Capital Approved 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 
		
		
			 Litherland, Bootle and  Orrell 1,000,000 675,407 692,293 692,293 
			 Seaforth and Bootle 825,21 1 770,140 789,393 789,393 
			 Southport 36,500 643,982 660,039 660,039 
			 Netherton 6,000 669,999 682,033 682,033 
		
	
	All four programmes are developing into children's centres and will contribute towards achieving our goal of a children's centre for every community by 2010.
	There are eight neighbourhood nurseries in the most disadvantaged areas in Sefton providing 291 affordable childcare places to families living there.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of whether the public service agreement target to narrow substantially the gap between education attainment and participation of children in care and that of their peers by 2006 will be met.

Margaret Hodge: The Department publishes progress against all its outstanding PSA targets in its annual departmental report and autumn performance report. Progress against our 2002 spending review targets, including the one referred to in this question, was reported most recently in the 2004 autumn report, published last November, together with commentary where appropriate.
	The 2004 spending review set a new target to narrow the gap in educational achievement between looked after children and their peers and to improve their educational support and the stability of their lives. By 2008, 80 per cent. of children under 16 who have been looked after for 2.5 or more years will have been living in the same placement for at least two years, or placed for adoption. This emphasises the importance of stability as a prerequisite for raising educational achievement and is underpinned by educational performance indicators which mirror the three elements of the 2002 spending review target.
	A copy of the Department's 2004 autumn performance report has been placed in the Library.

Teachers (Pay)

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pay of the (a) highest and (b) lowest paid (i) primary and (ii) secondary school teachers were in real terms (A) in 1997 and (B) in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: In March 1997 the highest salary paid to a qualified teacher in a maintained primary school adjusted to 2002–03 real terms was £67,900. The highest in a secondary school was £87,100. By March 2003, the latest available, the figures were £84,900 and £108,600 respectively.
	The minimum salary paid to qualified teachers in both maintained primary and secondary schools in March 1997, adjusted to 2002–03 real terms, was £14,400. In March 2003 the figure was £17,600.

University Admissions

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have entered higher education from school in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997.

Kim Howells: The most recent information, showing the proportion of 18-year-olds who obtained places on full-time undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), is shown in the table. Participation rates for each parliamentary constituency are not calculated by the Department.
	
		Proportion of 18-year-olds obtaining places on full-time undergraduate courses Academic year 2003/04
		
			 Year of entry South Tyneside North East England 
		
		
			 1997 15.7 17.5 20.5 
			 1998 14.8 17.9 20.0 
			 1999 15.2 18.2 20.0 
			 2000 16.7 18.4 20.6 
			 2001 17.2 19.2 21.5 
			 2002 17.4 19.8 22.0 
			 2003 16.6 19.0 21.4 
		
	
	In addition, HEFCE have recently published 'Young participation in Higher Education', (available from http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_037) which shows the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19, although this only covers the years up to 2000. Participation rates for constituencies based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar). The figures indicate that the proportion of young people from Jarrow who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 23 per cent. in 1997 and 24 per cent. in 2000.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Accredited Offending Behaviour Programmes

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accredited offending behaviour programmes are due to be completed in 2004–05; and how many are expected to be completed in 2005–06.

Paul Goggins: Accredited offending behaviour programmes are delivered to offenders supervised by the National Probation Service and to offenders serving sentences of imprisonment. The targets for both groups of offenders have been rolled forward from 2004–05 to 2005–06: 15,000 for offenders supervised by probation and 7,000 for prisoners.
	The latter target is divided between public and contracted prisons and includes a specified number of sex offender treatment programmes. The target details for the financial years 2004–05 and 2005–06 are set out in the table. The figure for 2005–06 corrects an inaccuracy in the wording of the written ministerial statement on 25 February setting out the National Offender Management Service's targets for that year—25 February 2005, Official Report, column 65WS.
	
		
			  Target details 
		
		
			 2004–05 7,000 offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners, including: 5,490 living skills programmes and 1,100 sex offender treatment programmes in public prisons 330 living skills programmes and 80 sex offender treatment programmes in contracted prisons 
			   
			 2005–06 7,000 offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners, comprising: 6,590 programmes in public prisons (including 1,160 sex offender treatment programmes) 410 programmes in contracted prisons (including 80 sex offender treatment programmes)

Antisocial Behaviour (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will respond to the petition he received on his recent visit to Thirsk; and what action he proposes to take against antisocial behaviour in the Vale of York.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has seen the petition and has responded to Mr. Dadd personally. I would like to refer the hon. Member to my reply of 8 March 2005, Official Report, column 1597W, regarding the action which is being taken to reduce antisocial behaviour in the Vale of York.

Asylum Seekers

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make provision for failed asylum seekers to be given temporary permission to work until they can be returned to their country of origin.

Des Browne: We believe that those whose asylum application has been unsuccessful should leave. The fact that they may not wish to do so cannot mean that we should routinely continue to provide support or permit them to take employment. To do either of these things would remove any incentive they may have to go voluntarily. Failed asylum seekers unable to leave immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control may be provided with support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This support is intended only as a temporary arrangement until such a time as they can return.

Civil Servants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04 and what the estimated cost will be in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The cost of enhanced exits in the Home Office and its agencies for financial years 1997–98 to 2003–04 are shown in the following table.
	
		£000
		
			 Financial year Core Home Office Prison Service UKPS CRB Total cost 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,405,248 -85,224 26,741 0 1,346,765 
			 1998–99 1,403,875 1,519,160 9,000 0 2,932,035 
			 1999–2000 1,662,050 2,839,945 -106,137 0 4,395,858 
			 2000–01 1,360,998 2,097,528 34,000 0 3,492,526 
			 2001–02 1,691,921 4,907,931 139,476 0 6,739,328 
			 2002–03 6,667,783 11,700,395 21,148 0 18,389,326 
			 2003–04 600,992 2,399,946 50,245 0 3,051,183 
			 Total 14,792,867 25,379,681 174,473 0 40,347,021 
		
	
	The estimated costs for financial years 2004–05 to 2007–08 are shown in the following table.
	
		£000
		
			 Financial year Core Home Office Prison Service UKPS CRB Total cost 
		
		
			 2004–2005 3,033,937 3,500,000 542,817 0 7,076,754 
			 2005–2006 1,476,416 3,120,329 34,010 0 4,630,755 
			 2006–2007 1,116,853 2,485,182 12,385 0 3,614,420 
			 2007–2008 827,373 1,730,066 9,185 0 2,566,624 
			 Total 6,454,579 10,835,577 598,397 0 17,888,553

Correspondence

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond fully to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birkenhead of 21 December 2004 about his constituent Mr. Calvin Zola Makongo; and if he will meet the family and Mr. Makongo's employers.

Des Browne: holding answer 22 March 2005
	I responded in full to my right hon. Friend on 31 January and also replied to his subsequent letter of 16 February on 23 March.
	Mr. Makongo's legal advisers have lodged an appeal on his behalf. That appeal will be heard by the IAA. Accordingly it would not be appropriate to meet Mr. Makongo's family or his employers.

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the ministerial design champion for his Department is.

Fiona Mactaggart: I am the ministerial design champion for the Home Office.

Ministerial Visits

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what ministerial visits are planned for each Minister in his Department in the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: For reasons of security, it would not be appropriate to disclose the information requested.

Under-age Alcohol Sales

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for the sale of alcohol to under 18-year-olds there have been in each year since 2000, broken down by local authority; and what guidance he gives to local authorities on the conduct of investigations into, and prosecutions for, such offences.

Hazel Blears: Details of the numbers of persons proceeded against and those found guilty of selling alcohol to persons aged under 18 in England and Wales for the years 2000 to 2003 are shown in the table. The statistics collected centrally do not allow local authorities to be identified, but a breakdown by police force area is provided. Statistics for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	The penalty notice for disorder scheme provides for persons who commit specified penalty offences to be issued with a fixed penalty notice instead of being prosecuted. The table therefore also contains details of the provisional number of penalty notices issued for this offence in 2004.
	The Government have not issued any guidance to local authorities on the conduct of investigations into, and prosecutions for, such offences. Such matters are dealt with by Trading Standards and by the police. Guidance pertaining to the test purchasing of alcohol by minors has been issued by LACORS and the Trading Standards Institute, and can be viewed at www.lacors.gov.uk.
	
		Persons proceeded against, those found guilty and those given penalty notices for disorder for selling alcohol to persons under 18 years, England and Wales
		
			  Selling intoxicating liquor to persons under 18(24) 
			  Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty Persons given PNDs 
			 Police force area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(25) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset — 1 — 2 — — — 2 — 
			 Bedfordshire 1 1 1 2 — 1 1 1 — 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 2 — — — — — — — 
			 Cheshire 6 — 4 16 2 — 3 5 — 
			 Cleveland — 1 1 4 — 1 1 1 — 
			 Cumbria — 2 2 1 — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire 8 3 — 37 1 3 — 24 — 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2 — 1 — 1 — — — — 
			 Dorset — 3 — 9 — 1 — 8 22 
			 Durham 1 — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Essex — 2 3 7 — 2 2 7 5 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 20 20 39 122 7 14 28 87 — 
			 Hampshire 3 2 4 — 1 — 3 — 1 
			 Hertfordshire 1 — — 1 1 — — — — 
			 Humberside — — — — — — — — 2 
			 Kent — 5 3 9 — 1 3 7 — 
			 Lancashire 1 13 14 23 — 2 7 13 24 
			 Leicestershire 1 — 10 15 1 — 9 11 3 
			 Lincolnshire — — — 17 — — — 11 — 
			 City of London — — — — — — — — — 
			 Merseyside 1 — 14 42 1 — 6 27 — 
			 Metropolitan police 2 19 12 113 1 3 9 77 5 
			 Norfolk — — — 1 — — — 1 — 
			 Northamptonshire — 3 1 — — — 1 — 1 
			 Northumbria 17 17 8 38 8 7 4 31 1 
			 North Yorkshire — — — 7 — — — 1 — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — 7 — — — 2 7 
			 South Yorkshire 14 20 — — 9 2 — — 2 
			 Staffordshire — — 3 8 — — 3 6 — 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — — 
			 Surrey — — 5 4 — — 2 2 — 
			 Sussex 2 7 — 8 1 — — 7 — 
			 Thames Valley 1 3 — 6 1 2 — 4 — 
			 Warwickshire — — — 27 — — — 23 — 
			 West Mercia 3 3 — 7 2 2 — 6 1 
			 West Midlands 18 8 9 20 8 1 4 19 6 
			 West Yorkshire 8 9 14 2 6 7 8 1 4 
			 Wiltshire 2 2 1 6 — — 1 3 — 
			 Dyfed-Powys 8 3 2 5 2 1 1 5 — 
			 Gwent 4 5 9 2 2 3 5 2 — 
			 North Wales 2 1 1 7 — — 1 5 1 
			 South Wales — — 7 29 — — 3 17 — 
			 Total 130 155 168 604 56 53 105 416 85 
		
	
	
		
			  Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to person under 18(26) 
			  Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset — — — — — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Cheshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — 
			 Cumbria — — — — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset — — — — — — — — 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex — — — — — — — — 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 2 — — 7 — — — — 
			 Hampshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Hertfordshire — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Humberside — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — — — 3 — — — 3 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — — 
			 Leicestershire — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Lincolnshire — — — — — — — — 
			 City of London — — — — — — — — 
			 Merseyside — — — — — — — — 
			 Metropolitan Police — — — — — — — — 
			 Norfolk — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Northumbria — — — — — — — — 
			 North Yorkshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — 2 — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire — 2 — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — 
			 Surrey — — — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — — 
			 Warwickshire — — — — — — — — 
			 West Mercia — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — 1 — — — — — 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — — — 
			 Gwent — — — — — — — — 
			 North Wales — — — — — — — — 
			 South Wales — — — — — — — — 
			 Total 2 3 2 12 — — — 3 
		
	
	(24) Under the Licensing Act 1964, sections 169A and B and the Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, section 3 (schedule para. 4(1))
	(25) Provisional figures.
	(26) Under the Licensing Act, section 181A(1) as added by the Licensing Act 1988, section 17.

Workers Registration Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much revenue his Department has received under the Workers Registration Scheme since it was introduced.

Des Browne: Since the Worker Registration Scheme commenced on 1 May 2004, the total fees received up to and including 28 February were £7,483,537.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether he publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The incidence of reported accidents in DFID's UK buildings involving our staff (including contractors working on the premises) over each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of accidents 
		
		
			 2000–01 32 
			 2001–02 42 
			 2002–03 44 
			 2003–04 58 
			 2004–05 51 
		
	
	There have been no reported accidents for any members of the public.
	Accidents are monitored centrally so that appropriate action can be taken to reduce the occurrence of similar incidents in the future. Statistics on numbers of accidents are monitored by our internal Health and Safety Committee.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements for monitoring accidents at work involving members of staff of his Department are in place; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID's Health and Safety Policy specifically states that any member of staff having an accident on official premises must report the circumstances to our Human Resources Division. The circumstances will then be investigated and where appropriate a risk assessment carried out. If necessary these would be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 legislation.
	Health and safety information is provided for all new members of staff, and the Department has a programme of regular health and safety inspections, risk assessments and workstation assessments, with additional training provided where necessary for key staff such as Fire Wardens and those whose work involves manual handling. DFID is committed to ensuring that it provides a safe and healthy working environment for all its staff.

Departmental Travel

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the travel criteria used by his Department to determine when officials travel by (a) first class, (b) club class, (c) premium economy class and (d) economy class.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Within the constraints that all staff are required to use the most efficient and economical means of travel commensurate with meeting business needs, staff are entitled to the class of air travel as set in the following table that appears in DFID's Staff Handbook. While premium economy is not widely available at present and does not currently feature in the table, we are considering its adoption as part of a review of our Flexible Travel Scheme for staff on overseas assignments.
	
		
			 Structure Members of the SASC Group(27) Other staff(28) 
			  Up to 2½ hours Over 2½ hours Up to 2½ hours Over 2½ hours 
		
		
			 Business/Economy Business Business Economy Business 
			 First/Business/Economy Business Business Economy Business 
			 First/Economy Economy First Economy Economy 
		
	
	(27) The Senior Appointments Selection Committee Group.
	(28) Staff who are not members of the SASC Group can fly business class between Glasgow and London, and vice versa. This makes use of a special airline deal under which a business class fare is obtainable more cheaply than the standard economy fare.

CABINET OFFICE

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many accidents occurred at his Office's premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Office's staff and (b) members of the public.

Alan Milburn: Over the past five years 11 minor accidents to staff have been noted in the accident report book at the Duchy of Lancaster office, none of which were reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.
	There have been no accidents involving members of the public.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Duchy sold any surplus stock on the eBay auction website, in each year since 2000–01.

Alan Milburn: The Duchy of Lancaster has not used the eBay auction website for the disposal of surplus stock.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the value of sales of surplus assets from the Duchy was in each year since 2000–01.

Alan Milburn: The values of sales of surplus assets from the Duchy for each year since 2000–01 are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Amount 
		
		
			 2000–2001 6,244 
			 2001–2002 7,207 
			 2002–2003 47,792 
			 2003–2004 10,344 
			 2004–2005 19,128

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Energy Use

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1141W, on energy use, what plans there are to increase the target set for the sourcing of electricity from renewable energy sources.

Archy Kirkwood: We plan to keep our target in step with the target set by Government for its own buildings, which at present is 10 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources.

Energy Use

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how much energy in kWh per square metre has been used on the parliamentary estate for each year since 1997.

Archy Kirkwood: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  kWh per square metre 
		
		
			 1997–98 328 
			 1998–99 337 
			 1999–2000 328 
			 2000–01 326 
			 2001–02 331 
			 2002–03 343 
			 2003–04 357

Energy Use

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answer of 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 803W, on parliamentary estates (heating), what additional information sub-metering has provided on where heat is lost on the parliamentary estate; and if he will list the areas where most heat is lost.

Archy Kirkwood: Our energy saving strategy includes investing in sub-metering. Engineering studies of how this may best be done are planned for the financial year 2005–06. Most heat is lost from the Palace of Westminster via the roof and the historic ventilation system.

Energy Use

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission whether it is the policy of the House to ensure that heating systems are turned off during public holidays.

Archy Kirkwood: I can confirm that it is the policy to turn off heating or reduce temperature settings during public holidays.

Environmental Performance Measures

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps he has taken to co-ordinate environmental performance measures between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Archy Kirkwood: Environmental performance measures for the two Houses together are managed as a shared service by the Parliamentary Estates Directorate.

Publications

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will make it its policy that daily issues of the Questions Book and Hansard are not issued to individual members unless specifically requested by their office.

Archy Kirkwood: It is already the longstanding custom and practice of the House that papers are only provided to hon. Members when they specifically request them, either on demand, or in the case of business papers and Hansard by completion of a demand form at the beginning of a new Parliament.

Recycling Points

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  if he will list the locations on the parliamentary estate of (a) glass and (b) metal can recycling points provided for the use of (i) hon. Members and staff and (ii) house authorities; and what volume of each material was collected from these points in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what progress has been made on installing more glass and metal can recycling points in the parliamentary estate.

Archy Kirkwood: Glass is collected at the waste centres in Peers Court, 1 Canon Row Courtyard and 7 Millbank. Metals are extracted from our general waste by our recycling contractor at their works, so specific metal recycling points are not needed on the parliamentary estate.
	In 2003–04 we recycled 173 tonnes of glass and 50 tonnes of metal.
	The waste recycling contract is currently being re-tendered. The new contract will enable us to extend our recycling.

Refreshment Department

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate (a) the quantity and (b) the percentage of all food products sourced by the Refreshment Department from suppliers outside the UK, broken down by (i) fruit, (ii) vegetables, (iii) bottled water, (iv) food products and (v) alcoholic drinks.

Archy Kirkwood: All suppliers of foods and beverages used by the Refreshment Department are based in the UK, but the produce used by the Department originates from many countries. No record is kept of the country of origin of supplies.
	The availability of UK produced fresh fruit and vegetables is generally highly seasonal, and so use of imported produce varies throughout the year. Purchases of fruit and vegetables are recorded in many different weights and measures which cannot be converted into one standard format for reporting purposes. It is therefore not possible to estimate the percentage or quantity of fruit and vegetables originating from outside the UK.
	In the 11 months to the end of February 2005, the Refreshment Department purchased over 140,100 litres of bottled water, none of which was imported.
	The Refreshment Department uses over 3,000 different food products in its catering operations, but not all are in stock at any given time; it has therefore not been possible to estimate the total proportion of food products that originate from outside the UK. However, the Department estimates that less than 5 per cent. of its fresh meat and poultry purchases originate from outside the UK. Most dairy products, including cheeses, and all fresh egg supplies are of UK origin.
	The Refreshment Department purchases alcoholic drinks for sale in the House of Commons catering outlets, and also for the House of Commons souvenir shops to sell to visitors to Parliament. Over the past 11 months, the Refreshment Department purchased 38,051 litres of beers and ciders, of which 10,992 litres (29 per cent.) were imported, and a total of 4,519 litres of aperitifs, fortified wines and spirits, of which 358 litres (8 per cent.) were imported. Of the total wine purchases of almost 57,000 litres during the past 11 months, over 54,000 litres (95.3 per cent.) were produced outside the UK.

Refreshment Department

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what quantity of alcoholic drinks, in litres, has been purchased for sale (a) in parliamentary bars and (b) by the Refreshment Department at catering functions on the parliamentary estate in each year since 1975.

Archy Kirkwood: The Refreshment Department does not purchase drinks for specific trading areas, but issues goods as required from its central store. The quantity of alcoholic drinks consumed in the parliamentary bars was 50,474 litres in 2003–04 and 40,900 litres in the 11 months to February 2005. Consumption at functions catered or supplied by the Refreshment Department was 31,563 litres in 2003–04 and 28,169 litres in the 11 months to February 2005. No figures are available for previous years.

Refreshment Department

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the Commission's policy is on the sourcing of beer for sale (a) in parliamentary bars and (b) by the Refreshment Department at catering functions on the parliamentary estate, with particular reference to sourcing from small independent UK brewers.

Archy Kirkwood: The Refreshment Department regularly seeks the advice of the Catering Committee on the sourcing of beers for sale through its catering outlets. In the House of Commons bars, the Department offers for sale one draught ale, generally changed weekly, that is specifically sourced from a member of the Society of Independent Brewers and supplied by their distributor, East West Ales. The Department also sells beers from Young's and Co. (Wandsworth) in certain bars. Other beers sold throughout the House of Commons bars and at functions catered by the Refreshment Department are supplied by the Department's principal nominated beer supplier. This contract, which is currently in the process of being competitively tendered in accordance with the EU Procurement Regulations, and has been advertised in appropriate trade publications, includes a requirement for the supply of a regularly changed British regional ale, to be expressly purchased by the Department's nominated beer supplier for supply to the House of Commons.
	The Refreshment Department is also in the process of tendering a contract for the supply of a House of Commons gift ale pack for sale through its souvenir and gift shops. The Society of Independent Brewers have provided a list of all their members who produce bottled beers and these producers have been invited with others to attend a meeting with the Refreshment Department's Purchasing Manager.

Refreshment Department

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what progress has been made by the Director of Catering Services in investigating the feasibility of implementing a strategy to minimise food miles as part of the Refreshment Department's food procurement objectives.

Dennis Turner: I have been asked to reply.
	I recognise that many customers of the Refreshment Department are supportive of sustainable food initiatives. The Refreshment Department's business plan for 2005–06 acknowledges the need to develop a formal policy on this matter. Subsequent to my answer of 26 October 2004, Official Report, column 1095W, the Refreshment Department Purchasing Manager had a constructive initial discussion with Sustain, an organisation formed in 1999 by merging the National Food Alliance and the Sustainable Agriculture Food and Environment Alliance. Sustain are keen to assist the Department in the development of a responsible purchasing policy that supports sustainable food supplies, including the consideration of food miles. Further progress has been delayed pending completion of organisational changes within Sustain, but the Refreshment Department hopes to be able to pursue this matter over the next few months.

Refreshment Department

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate how many of the plastic bags issued by the Refreshment Department for customer use are (a) reused and (b) put into the general waste either within or outside the parliamentary estate each day.

Archy Kirkwood: It is not possible to make an estimate.

Security Passes

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many House passes have been held in each year since 1975, broken down by House department.

Archy Kirkwood: Data are not kept on the issue of passes by year and cannot be broken down by department of the House.

Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps have been taken to encourage (a) hon. Members and (b) staff of the House to travel to the parliamentary estate other than by private motor vehicle.

Archy Kirkwood: The House of Commons Commission recognises the benefits to all those who come to the House using means other than private cars where convenient for them to do so. There are at present some 100 cycle parking spaces on the parliamentary estate and public cycle parking nearby on Millbank. In addition there are plans to reorganise parking arrangements in Star Chamber Court which will create some 15 additional cycle parking spaces. Interest free loans for annual public transport season tickets are also available for staff of the House as are bicycle loans.

Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  if he will estimate the total volume of waste that has been produced each year since 1975; and how much was (a) food and other organic waste, (b) paper products, (c) printer products and (d) plastic packaging;
	(2)  what the total volume of waste produced on the parliamentary estate was in each year since 1975, broken down by (a) amount produced and (b) amount recycled.

Archy Kirkwood: Data are available since 2002–03 for the total weight of waste, the weight of waste paper products recycled and the weight of other products recycled. Separate figures are not available for food, printer products or plastic packaging.
	
		Tonnes
		
			  Total weight of waste Weight of paper products recycled Weight of other products recycled 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,478 263 311 
			 2003–04 2,319 379 229 
			 2004–05 to January 1,517 273 138

Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many tonnes of waste produced from the parliamentary estate were incinerated in each of the last five years; and if he will estimate how many tonnes of (a) carbon dioxide and (b) other pollutants are produced as a result.

Archy Kirkwood: Approximately 1,700 tonnes of waste from the parliamentary estate were incinerated to generate electricity in 2003–04. The data is not available to calculate the tonnes of carbon dioxide or other pollutants produced as a result.

Water Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1142W, on water usage, 
	(1)  what volume of water he estimates has been saved from the water conservation measures implemented by the House authorities in each year since such measures were implemented;
	(2)  what improvements have been made in Portcullis House to reduce the amount of water drawn from the boreholes; and if he will estimate what volume of water has been conserved as a result of these improvements in each year since the building was first occupied;
	(3)  what targets have been set to reduce water consumption on the parliamentary estate; and what progress has been made in meeting them.

Archy Kirkwood: Our target is to reduce water use. At Portcullis House, borehole water use has been reduced from an average of 710,000 cubic metres for each of the two years 2002 and 2003 to 350,000 cubic metres in 2004. This reduction was achieved by reducing the rate of pumping, following changing the original control settings.
	For the estate generally between 1997–98 and 2003–04 water consumption increased by some 70,000 cubic metres per annum. It is not possible to separate the estimated effect of conservation measures on one hand from the effect of increased numbers of people working on the estate on the other hand.

Water Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1142W, on water usage, what volume of water has been saved on the parliamentary estate as a result of (a) the fitting of detectors to urinal cisterns to prevent unnecessary automatic flushing and (b) the fitting of flush volume reduction devices or dual flush equipment to other cisterns and lavatories.

Archy Kirkwood: It is not practicable to make such an estimate.

Water Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what use is made of grey water on the parliamentary estate; and what future plans have been made for its use.

Archy Kirkwood: Grey water is used in Portcullis House for flushing lavatories. There are no plans for other use of grey water on the estate.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Processing

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long the average processing time was for an application for payment of (a) carers' allowance, (b) disability living allowance and (c) jobseeker's allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and what his Department's target is for processing each of these benefits.

Maria Eagle: The administration of carer's allowance and disability living allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran and the administration of jobseeker's allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of Job Centre Plus.
	Mr. Moran will provide a co-ordinated response and write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran to Mr. Parmjit Singh Gill, dated 23 March 2005
	I am replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Disability and Carers Service and Jobcentre Plus.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how long the average processing time was for an application for payment of a) carer's allowance, b) disability living allowance and c) jobseeker's allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and what his Departments target is for processing each of these benefits.
	The year to date, as at December 2004, actual average clearance time for claims for carer's allowance was 16.8 days with an actual average clearance target of 24 days.
	The year to date, as at December 2004, actual average clearance time for claims for disability living allowance was 36.7 days with an actual average clearance target of 39 days.
	The year to date, as at December 2004, actual average clearance time for claims to disability living allowance using the special rules criteria was 5.8 days with an actual average clearance target of 8 days.
	The year to date, as at December 2004, actual average clearance time for claims to jobseeker's allowance was 12 days with an actual average clearance target of 12 days.
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Support Scheme/Agency

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects statistics on the new child support scheme to become available; whether the statistics on the new child support scheme produced within the Child Support Agency progress report of 28 October 2004 were quality assured; and if he will make a statement on the status of previous statistics produced on the new child support system.

Malcolm Wicks: Statistics on the 'new scheme' are already available and are regularly reported and published in my right hon. Friend's progress report; last presented on 28 October 2004.
	The published information provided the most current available data. The Child Support Agency has since, as a result of in-depth investigations, identified some anomalies in this information.
	The next progress report is due to be published on 24 March 2005 and identifies revisions in the information as a consequence of the agency's findings. A copy of the progress report will also accompany the Government response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee.

Child Support Scheme/Agency

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Bassetlaw residents have claimed Child Support Agency maintenance payments, but have yet to receive them.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Mann, dated 23 March 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Bassetlaw residents have claimed Child Support Agency maintenance payments but have yet to receive them.
	The information requested is not available, as data on Child Support Agency claims for maintenance payments is not recorded at constituency level.

Company Pension Schemes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances he would seek to intervene in the wind-up of a company pension scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: Ministers do not intervene in the wind-up of company pension schemes. However, Ministers do regularly meet members of schemes that are winding-up along with their trades union representatives and constituency MPs, to listen to their concerns.
	The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) has a statutory role in monitoring scheme wind-ups. This will be carried forward to The Pensions Regulator when it assumes responsibility for the regulation of occupational pension schemes from Opra in April 2005.
	The Regulator will have a range of powers to intervene if it considers that members' benefits are at risk, including the ability to remove and replace the trustees. It will also have a statutory duty to maintain a register of approved independent trustees, which will enable it to keep a check on fees charged by an independent trustee appointed to a scheme following employer insolvency.

Council Tax Relief

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account is taken of equity release for pensioners in determining income in order to calculate council tax relief.

Chris Pond: Payments made under an equity release scheme are taken into account as income for the purposes of council tax benefit.

Crown Immunity

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he takes to collate reports made to Ministers by Government Departments of incidents of deaths or serious injury from those activities of those Departments which are subject to Crown immunity; and how many such reports have been made in each of the past 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: DWP Ministers are not routinely informed of accidents and ill health within Departments that have Crown immunity.
	Ministers and senior managers may be informed of accidents and ill health within the Departments for which they have responsibility. However, such arrangements are a matter for individual Departments.
	HSE should receive all reports of deaths and injuries in Government Departments—with certain exemptions for MOD personnel. These reports inform discussions between HSE and Departments about their health and safety performance. Additionally, all Departments' performance on health and safety is now under scrutiny as part of the work of a ministerial task force, which I chair.
	Information about reports which result in a Crown Censure or Notice is publicly available on HSE's website. Other data is available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of his Department's administrative expenditure was related to (a) pensioners, (b) sick and disabled people, (c) unemployed people, (d) lone parents and (e) other types of claimants in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 18 March 2005
	The Department accounts for its administrative expenditure by strategic objective as set out in it's public service agreements (PSA) and by individual requests for resources (RfRs) as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts, and not by claimant type. Information on administrative expenditure by strategic objective is available in the annually published Departmental Report. The Department was created from the former Department for Social Security (DSS) and Employment Services (ES) and consequently information is not currently available for the years 1997 onwards.

Jobcentre Plus

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by Jobcentre Plus, in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) region, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) local authority.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 23 March 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many staff were employed by Jobcentre Plus, in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by region, Parliamentary Constituency and Local Authority. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Using 31 January 2005 data, the most recent figures which are available, the total number of full time equivalent staff employed by Jobcentre Plus was 75,691. The table below shows the data broken down by region.
	
		Full-time equivalent staff employed by Jobcentre Plus31 January 2005
		
			 Region Staff 
		
		
			 East Midlands 4,516 
			 East of England 4,881 
			 London 9,596 
			 North East 4,811 
			 North West 11,437 
			 Scotland 9,253 
			 South East 6,132 
			 South West 4,758 
			 Wales 4,936 
			 West Midlands 6,509 
			 Yorkshire and the Number 8,862 
			 Total 75,691 
		
	
	Source:
	Departmental Staffing Database—Mandate Definitions.
	I am unable to provide a statistical breakdown by Parliamentary Constituency, or Local Authority, as Jobcentre Plus does not collect this information.
	I hope this is helpful.

New Deal (Lone Parents)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Edinburgh, North and Leith have gained work through the new deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: 420 lone parents in Edinburgh, North and Leith have gained work through the new deal for lone parents since the start of the programme in October 1998. Figures for lone parents who have gained work through other new deal programmes are not available.

Pensioner Income

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what initiatives his Department has taken to reduce differences in average income between men and women pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: One of our guiding principles for pension reform is that the pensions system should produce fair outcomes for women. This has been a key principle that has been inherent in our action so far and will guide our approach in the future.
	Through pension credit we have significantly improved the income of the poorest pensioners, the majority of whom are women. Since 1997, we have lifted 1.8 million pensioners out of abject poverty, two thirds of whom are women. As the Pensions Commission Report noted, male and female pensioners now receive a similar level of state benefit.
	In addition, almost all of the 1.9 million carers and around 65 per cent. of the 5.8 million low earners who will benefit from the introduction of the state second pension are women. Other measures, such as winter fuel payments, free TV licences and one-off payments have been especially beneficial to women as they are targeted on older pensioners, the majority of whom are women.
	We are publishing a report on women and pensions to look at women's pension provision in more detail later this year.

Pensioners

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid in pension credit to pensioners in Leeds West; how much of this is savings credit; and how many people have benefited.

Malcolm Wicks: Between 1 October 2003 and 31 December 2004 an estimated total of £10.8 million, was paid in pension credit in the Leeds West constituency. Of this an estimated £1.6 million was paid in savings credit. To the end of December 2004 around 5,000 households comprising around 6,000 individuals, had received pension credit since it was introduced in October 2003.
	Note
	Expenditure figures have been rounded to the nearest £100,000 and are in cash (nominal) terms.
	Sources
	Programme Accounting Computer System and IAD Information Centre.
	100 per cent. sample , Department for Work and Pensions.

Pensioners

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on sources of funding for community-based projects serving the retired community in Birmingham.

Malcolm Wicks: Funding for community-based projects which assist older people is available from a variety of sources. In Birmingham these include the local authority; the Legal Services Commission; charities, such as Age Concern and Help the Aged; the Scarman Trust; WarmFront; Neighbourhood Renewal; and local businesses.
	The Pension Service Partnership Fund, operated by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is currently funding two projects for older people in Birmingham. Community Advice, Support and Advocacy Centre (CASA) and Black Country Housing and Community Services Group Ltd. have both been awarded two years funding for projects to promote the take-up of benefits and complementary services by older people in Birmingham.
	The Fund has also awarded funding to another 12 organisations in the West Midlands including two in Coventry, one in Oldbury and one in Wolverhampton.

Pensioners

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) in the City of York local authority area and (b) City of York parliamentary constituency receive (i) basic state pension and (ii) pension credit; and what the average weekly value of pension credit received is in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table:
	
		
			  Basic state pension recipients Number of households getting pension credit Average weekly amount of pension credit per household (£) 
		
		
			 City of York unitary authority 34,400 6,545 34.55 
			 City of York parliamentary constituency 17,500 4,360 34.95 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Basic state pension figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	2. Basic state pension recipient figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Pension credit recipient figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	3. State pension data is as at 30 September 2004. Pension credit data is as at 31 December 2004.
	4. Parliamentary constituencies and local authority areas are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	5. A basic state pension is paid to those who fully or partially satisfy the contribution conditions for a Category A or Category B basic state pension, either in their own right or, where applicable, on the basis of their spouse's or former spouse's national insurance contributions.
	Sources:
	Basic state pension—IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample;
	Pension credit—IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

Pensioners

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) women and (b) men are eligible for a full state pension in their own right.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. However, as at 30 September 2004, the percentage of men and women who were receiving a full basic state pension based on their own National Insurance contributions as a proportion of the total pensioner population in Great Britain, was about 87 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are taken from a five per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	2. Percentages are rounded to the nearest full percentage point.
	3. A full basic state pension was £79.60 in 2004–05.
	4. Pensioner population estimates are from mid-2003 supplied by the Office for National Statistics.
	5. Pensioner population refers to females aged 60 and over; and males aged 65 and over.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, five per cent. sample.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of sales of surplus assets from his Department was in each year since 2000–01.

Jane Kennedy: The DWP was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment, including the Employment Service (ES). The sales for the earlier period to June 2001 given below refer to the above predecessor organisations.
	Departments are required to disclose the proceeds from the sale of fixed assets consistent with the requirements of the Resource Accounting Manual (RAM) and Government Accounting.
	This information is included in the Departmental Resource Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library.
	The information on value of sales of fixed assets for each year is in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2000–01 1,180 
			 2001–02 1,775 
			 2002–03 3,596 
			 2003–04(29) 143,375 
		
	
	(29) The sale of the ex-Employment Service estate was undertaken in December 2003 as an extension to the existing PRIME PFI partnership contract with Land Securities Trillium. Under the terms of the contract, the Department received total consideration of £140 million, of which £100 million was in cash.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public.

Douglas Alexander: In 2004 there were 47 accidents reported at Foreign and Commonwealth Office premises in the UK, and 28 at Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts overseas, one of which involved a member of the public. In 2003 there were 43 accidents at Foreign and Commonwealth Office premises in the UK. Figures for previous years are not currently available.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In 2004, there were 75 accidents reported world-wide involving employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The comparable figure for 2003 was 55.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements for monitoring accidents at work involving members of staff of his Department are in place; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth office has an accident reporting system whereby all accidents are reported to the health and safety section of Human Resources Directorate—Health and Welfare Policy Team. The health and safety advisers monitor the accident reports for trends and produce statistics for discussion at health and safety meetings.
	The reporting system is compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Central African Republic

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent parliamentary and presidential elections held in the Central African Republic; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The British Government welcome the holding of elections in the Central African Republic. These mark the end of a two year period of transitional government. We are aware of some reports of irregularities in the election process, but we await the final results which are expected by 28 March.

G8 Summit

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards discussion of conventional arms sales at the G8 summit in June; and what resolutions will be proposed regarding Iraq.

Denis MacShane: There are no plans to discuss conventional arms sales at the G8 Summit, and it is too early to say what discussions there might be on Iraq at the Summit.

Human Rights Norms for Business

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the Government envisages for the UN Human Rights Norms for Business in clarifying the responsibilities of multinational corporations with regard to human rights.

Douglas Alexander: While there is merit in clarifying minimum standards for business in relation to human rights, we believe that future action on this agenda should take into account the many codes and initiatives which exist in this field, rather than focussing exclusively on the draft norms. These include the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises, the International Labour Organisation Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the UN Global Compact. This approach is in line with the recent report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on this issue.
	Through the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights, a number of multinational companies have been road-testing" the draft norms, using the content to inform their codes of practice. This process will continue until December 2006. In addition, the FTSE4Good benchmark takes the draft norms into account in its assessment of companies' performance. And some potential investors consider the draft norms in their requirement for human rights impact assessments".

Human Rights Norms for Business

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support the UN Human Rights Norms for Business at the UN Commission on Human Rights meeting in April.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to her today (UIN 222838). The UK will continue to play a constructive role in advancing the debate on corporate responsibility and human rights in the Commission. We will be active at the forthcoming Special Session of the Commission in seeking to ensure proper follow-up to the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which addresses, inter alia, the question of the status of the draft norms.

Iran

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent negotiations have taken place between the EU3 and Iran on the future of Iran's nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Discussions between officials from Iran, Britain, France and Germany—together with officials from the office of the European Union's High Representative—continue on a regular basis. The objective of the discussions is to take forward the full implementation of the November 2004 Paris Agreement.
	The most recent round of discussions took place in Geneva during the week beginning 7 March.

Iran

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is regarding the Iranian authorities' use of enriched uranium; and whether the UK is participating in the US initiatives to encourage Iran not to undertake this process.

Denis MacShane: The Government continue to have serious concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, including its plans to develop an indigenous uranium enrichment capability. Together with colleagues from France and Germany (the E3") and the European High Representative, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has been engaged since late 2002 in efforts to encourage the Iranian authorities to address international concern about their proposed nuclear cycle.
	We welcome the announcement by the United States on 11 March 2005 that it has decided to support the E3's diplomacy by dropping its objection to Iran's application to the World Trade Organisation and consider, on a case by case basis, the licensing of spare-parts for Iranian civilian aircraft, in particular from the EU to Iran.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money from public funds was allocated to the campaign of Mr. Allawi in the Iraq elections.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 1 March 2005
	No UK public funds were allocated to Dr. Allawi's election campaign.

Iraq

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the number of Iraqi civilians killed in the conflict since coalition forces entered Iraq; and what estimate he has made of the number of Iraqi civilians killed by the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 22 March 2005
	There are no wholly reliable and comprehensive figures for Iraqi civilians killed since military operations began in March 2003. The Iraqi Minister of Health's most recently released figures, based on records from some 180 hospitals, show that between 5 April 2004, when figures began to be collated, and 1 March 2005, 6,265 Iraqis were killed. The Ministry of Health points out that this figure includes all Iraqis, including civilians, Iraqi Security Forces and insurgents, killed as a result of violence.
	On 22 July 2003 the United Nations Secretary-General reported to the Security Council that it was estimated that over the past three decades at least 290,000 Iraqis had disappeared in Iraq. The Iraqi Bureau of Missing Persons has registered over 1.3 million missing Iraqis. Some 270 mass graves have so far been reported from that period.

Lebanon

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Lebanese authorities on the planned withdrawal of Syrian forces; and what discussions he has had with representatives of the Maronite Christian community.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Lebanese authorities about the withdrawal of Syrian forces, or with the representatives of the Maronite Christian community. During her visit to Lebanon last month, my right hon. and noble Friend, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean discussed the political situation in Lebanon with Lebanese Foreign Minister Hammoud. Our embassy in Beirut has regular contact with representatives from across the Lebanese political spectrum, including the Maronite Christian community.

Lebanon

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) European, (b) US, (c) Syrian and (d) Lebanese counterparts about the situation in Lebanon and the withdrawal of Syrian forces; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in Lebanon and the Syrian withdrawal with his EU counterparts at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 March, and has also spoken to US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice about developments. My right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, emphasised to Lebanese Foreign Minister Hammoud, when they met on 25 February, the importance that the UK places on compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559; the implementation of a credible electoral process leading to free and fair elections for the Lebanese National Assembly in line with the Lebanese constitution, free from foreign interference; and a full and transparent investigation into the bomb attack in Beirut on 14 February.

Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral discussions have taken place between the Government and (a) the United States, (b) the Russian Federation, (c) China and (d) France regarding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York in May.

Denis MacShane: We have had contact with a number of countries, including those mentioned, in the run up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the proliferation of nuclear weapons by non-state actors.

Denis MacShane: The Government hosted an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Conference in London from 16 to 18 March to discuss the nature of the threat of nuclear terrorism and to take forward the agenda on nuclear security. The United Kingdom, through contacts at meetings such as this in London, through its delegation to the IAEA in Vienna, and through the UK Governor who sits on the IAEA Board of Governors, remains in close touch with all aspects of the IAEA's important work.

Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to combat nuclear terrorism.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) first Strategic Priority is to achieve a world safer from global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. We work extensively to convince others to face up to these threats and to help them do so. All such efforts make it harder for terrorists and proliferators to operate and so help reduce the threat from nuclear terrorism.
	There are a number of programmes specifically targeted at nuclear terrorism—the principal one being the Global Partnership which aims, among other things, to address the problems of the nuclear legacy in the former Soviet Union. My right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Minister of State at the FCO, has also been closely involved in the International Atomic Energy Agency International Conference on Nuclear Security held in London last week, which discussed the significant risks to the international community posed by the threat of malicious acts involving nuclear and other radioactive materials and their associated facilities.

Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes have been made to the United Kingdom donation to the International Atomic Energy Agency for nuclear materials accountancy and security controls.

Denis MacShane: The United Kingdom has been a strong supporter of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Nuclear Security Fund since its inception. Most recently my right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, announced at the International Conference for Nuclear Security held in London 16–18 March, the donation of a further £350,000 to the Nuclear Security Fund.
	In 2003–04 the UK provided £1.2 million in voluntary support to the IAEA through the UK Safeguards Support Programme. In addition, the UK donated £1.4 million to the agency in support of its Safeguards Information System Replacement Project.

Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the address made on 16 March by the former United States Senator Sam Nunn to the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Global Directions for the Future.

Denis MacShane: I warmly welcome the speech made by Senator Nunn to the International Conference on Nuclear Security. Although unable to attend the conference personally, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with Senator Nunn on Monday 14 March to discuss these issues in depth.
	We share Senator Nunn's assessment of the urgency of this threat. The UK is developing its nuclear security programme under the Global Partnership and has recently announced a contract to undertake an upgrade of physical security at a key Russian Nuclear Research Centre. The contract, to be managed by experts from the British Nuclear Group, will focus on the Nikiet Institute in the centre of Moscow. It is one of Russia's leading nuclear research centres. The project is worth up to £2 million and will focus on the provision of physical protection upgrades on fencing, lighting, CCTV and access control systems. We hope that further such projects will roll out as nuclear security work becomes an increasingly important part of the Global Partnership programmes. Overall, in this financial year the UK will have spent £35.5 million on nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation programmes across the former Soviet Union.

Pakistan/Iran (Nuclear Technology)

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with counterparts in (a) Pakistan and (b) other European countries regarding the passing of nuclear technology from Pakistan to Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Iran's nuclear programme is a key issue in discussions with a large number of countries, at ministerial and official level. Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan has admitted to having supplied nuclear technology to Iran, and this information is being investigated by the International Atomic Energy Agency as well as by the authorities in a number of countries who continue to investigate the activities of Dr. Khan and his associates. Some of these associates were nationals of European countries. It would not be appropriate to comment on matters which are the subject of ongoing criminal investigations.
	In response to international encouragement Pakistan is working to strengthen its controls over the export of sensitive nuclear technology, including to Iran.

Palestine Authority

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the risk posed by Hezbollah to the establishment of stable Palestinian Government in the Palestinian Territories.

Chris Mullin: Hezbollah continues to reject the legitimacy of the state of Israel and to support Palestinian groups which reject the Oslo Accord. We are concerned that Hezbollah are in a position to undermine the current efforts being made by President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to work towards a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
	We have made clear that we believe Hezbollah should play a more constructive role and should support the Palestinian Authority in its efforts.

UK Embassies

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are employed in the commercial sections of each UK embassy and consulate.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 15 March 2005
	I have placed in the Library of the House a table of the number of full-time equivalent staff working to UK Trade and Investment's trade development and inward investment objective in commercial sections at each Foreign and Commonwealth Office Post in 2004, broken down by UK-based civil servants and locally engaged staff.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public.

David Lammy: The Department for Constitutional Affairs has accident records which identify how many accidents have occurred for the past three years: 2002, 2003, 2004. For 2002, no differentiation was made between accidents to staff and the public. The figures are:
	
		
			  Staff Public Total 
		
		
			 2002 (30)— (30)— 467 
			 2003 430 128 558 
			 2004 497 166 663 
			 2005 (to date) 58 26 84 
		
	
	(30) No analysis

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether he publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Yes. It is intended that accident data will be published in the Department's report for 2005–06, when produced.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what arrangements for monitoring accidents at work involving members of staff of his Department are in place; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department for Constitutional Affairs has appointed health and safety advisers across the Department who maintain systems for monitoring accidents at work to employees. The advisers investigate and report accidents via the normal management structures to ensure that control measures are identified to prevent recurrence.

Departmental Accounts

Tony Baldry: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether Ministers in the Department have issued written instructions to override his Department's accounting officer's objections since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 80W.

Electoral Registration

Mark Prisk: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many heads of households have been prosecuted since 2001 for failing to supply information to the electoral registration authorities in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Christopher Leslie: Local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for compiling the electoral register for their registration area, and electoral law provides that an ERO may require any person to give information required for the purposes of that officer's duties in maintaining electoral registers. It is an offence to fail to comply with such a request. Figures are not collected centrally in respect of prosecutions arising from this provision.

Electoral Registration

Mark Prisk: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to introduce further sanctions for failing to supply correct information on an electoral registration form.

Christopher Leslie: The Electoral Commission recommended in the report Voting for Change" that it should become an offence for an individual to fail to supply information at any time to the Electoral Registration Officer or to supply false information. We agree in principle that the existing offence of failure to supply or giving false information on the canvass form should be extended to other communications with the Electoral Registration Officer and we are considering how this might be taken forward.

EU Referendum

Ian Davidson: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether UK rules on spending during the EU referendum period will apply to spending in the UK by the UK Representation of the European Commission.

Christopher Leslie: The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 governs the conduct of the referendum and contains the rules on spending during the referendum period. The European Commission have said that they will not intervene or fund activities against the wishes of the member states.

Judges

Ross Cranston: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate he has made of the difference in cost of permanently locating a High Court judge or judges in a large commercial centre such as Birmingham compared with the costs of the present system of visiting High Court judges.

Christopher Leslie: No assessment has been made of the difference in cost of permanently locating High Court judges to the larger commercial centres as compared to the present system, although the cost effectiveness of the current arrangements for housing High Court judges while out on circuit is regularly reviewed.

Judges

David Amess: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many judges have been appointed in each year since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The number of judges appointed since 1997 can be found in the following table and includes appointments to courts and tribunals administered by my Department.
	The figure quoted for 1997 is for the calendar year and for full-time appointments only. The number of part-time appointments can be determined only at disproportionate cost.
	Figures from 1998 are obtained from the Judicial Appointments Annual Reports to Parliament for each of the financial years from 1998–2004 and include both full and part-time appointments.
	
		
			  Number of appointments 
		
		
			 1997 66 
			 1998–99 634 
			 1999–2000 464 
			 2000–01 753 
			 2001–02 915 
			 2002–03 697 
			 2003–04 480

Small Claims Procedure

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases have been brought using the small claims procedure in the last year for which information is available; and what proportion have been transferred to a higher court or procedure.

David Lammy: All proceedings issued in the county court are issued using the same procedure. A small proportion of these are then allocated to the small claims track. The number of such claims cases dealt with during 2004 was 45,323. These cases are dealt with by a district judge in the county court. Information is not maintained centrally about cases transferred to a higher court or any other procedure.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether his Department sold any surplus stock on the eBay auction website, in each year since 2000–01.

Christopher Leslie: The Department has no record of placing for auction any surplus stock on eBay.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the value of sales of surplus assets from the Department was in each year since 2000–01.

Christopher Leslie: The proceeds from disposal of surplus assets since 2000–01 are shown as follows.
	
		£000
		
			  Cash proceeds Accrual proceeds 
		
		
			 2000–01 8,206 8,206 
			 2001–02 310 310 
			 2002–03 4,194 4,194 
			 2003–04 3,262 59,877 
		
	
	In line with the guidance in the Resource Accounting Manual and Government Accounting these figures are disclosed in the departmental Resource Accounts. Copies of the Resource Accounts are available in the Library of the Houses of Parliament.
	The reason for the large difference between cash and accrual proceeds for 2003–04 is that payments are being made in stages with a further £56.6 million due to be received by the Department by the end of the 2006–07 financial year.

Travellers (Cambridgeshire)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much Government funding has been allocated to the Cambridgeshire Travellers Initiative Project.

David Lammy: The Cambridgeshire Travellers Initiative Project is a Partnership Initiative Budget (PIB) Project funded by the Legal Services Commission. The funding allocated to the project is £60,750 over 36 months (November 2003 to October 2006). All PIB funded projects are required to have at least 25 per cent. match funding. The Cambridgeshire Travellers Initiative Project receives its match funding in kind (covering costs such as office space and supervision) from the Ormiston Children and Families Trust.

HEALTH

Alzheimer's Disease

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recommendation by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence that Reminyl, Aricept and Exelon should not be provided free on the NHS to patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has responded to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE'S) consultation on its draft appraisal of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; a copy of which is available in the Library. NICE will be issuing a final version of this new guidance later in the year, after considering responses to its consultation. Until then, its original 2001 appraisal continues to apply.

Alzheimer's Disease

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's response to the consultation by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on the cost effectiveness of Arisept, Excelon and Reminyl.

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recommendation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence not to use donepezil (Aricept) in the treatment of mild to moderate cases of Alzheimer's disease.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 March 2005
	I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Edwards) on Wednesday 23 March.

Asthma

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been diagnosed with asthma in (a) England, (b) the East Midlands and (c) Leicester South constituency since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the number of children diagnosed with asthma is not collected. However according to Asthma UK, there are over 1.1 million children in the United Kingdom who suffer from asthma.
	Most cases of asthma are diagnosed and managed by general practitioners (GPs). The new GP contract which came into force on 1 April 2004 significantly benefits patients by improving the quality of care and widening the range of services available at GP surgeries.
	The contract is supported by a quality and outcomes framework which resources and rewards GPs on the basis of how well they care for patients rather than simply the number of patients they treat, leading to good chronic disease management in the community. Asthma is one of the diseases included in the framework.

Cancelled Operations

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been cancelled in NHS hospitals in each of the past 10 years.

John Hutton: holding answer 4 March 2005
	The available information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 
			  Number of cancelled operations Per 100 elective admissions Number of cancelled operations Per 100 elective admissions Number of cancelled operations Per 100 elective admissions Number of cancelled operations Per 100 elective admissions 
		
		
			 1994–95 11,603 1.1 10,186 0.9 11,874 1 14,466 1.2 
			 1995–96 11,860 1 11,457 1 14,514 1.2 16,652 1.3 
			 1996–97 11,595 1 11,055 0.9 13,023 1.1 16,374 1.4 
			 1997–98 12,019 1 11,550 1 12,476 1 14,460 1.2 
			 1998–99 12,384 1 11,470 0.9 14,611 1.1 17,685 1.3 
			 1999–2000 12,313 0.9 12,017 0.9 15,769 1.2 20,143 1.5 
			 2000–01 17,033 1.3 16,965 1.2 18,844 1.4 24,976 1.8 
			 2001–02 20,833 1.6 20,901 1.6 20,036 1.5 19,973 1.5 
			 2002–03 14,808 1.1 14,826 1.1 17,706 1.3 19,914 1.4 
			 2003–04 14,092 1.1 14,364 1.0 17,782 1.3 20,065 1.4 
			 2004–05 14,677 1.1 14,931 1.1 17,402 1.3 (31)— (31)— 
		
	
	(31) Quarter 4 2004–05 data are not available
	Source:
	Department of Health www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's plans are regarding the compilation and publication of the KT23 figures on chiropody; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 22 March 2005
	The Department plans to publish KT23 figures for the year 2004–05 in September.
	As part of the initiative to reduce the burden of bureaucracy in the national health service, the KT23 return was reviewed during 2004. As a result of this review, the return is to be discontinued from 1 April 2005. The total number of chiropody and podiatry contacts will continue to be collected by the Department for reference costing purposes.

Critical Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the optimal staffing levels for (a) level 1, (b) level 2 and (c) level 3 critical care beds; and what the average staffing levels have been in England for each level in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: It is for national health service trusts to assess staffing within critical care, taking account of levels of patient dependency, and to ensure that there is an appropriate mix of staff to undertake the various tasks required of the service.
	The information requested on average staffing levels for levels one, two and three care is not collected centrally.

Dentistry

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in Merseyside are accepting (a) children, (b) pensioners and (c) adult NHS patients, broken down by primary care trust.

Rosie Winterton: The information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Providing occasional national health service treatment to non registered patients Registering charge exempt adults for NHS treatment Registering charge paying adults for NHS treatment Registering children aged 0–18 years for NHS treatment 
		
		
			 Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority 139 170 164 219 
			 Bebington and West Wirral primary care trust 9 13 13 14 
			 Birkenhead and Wallasey PCT 18 20 19 23 
			 Central Cheshire PCT 4 7 4 15 
			 Central Liverpool PCT 20 18 18 22 
			 Cheshire West PCT 9 13 10 16 
			 Eastern Cheshire PCT 3 3 3 15 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston PCT 9 8 9 9 
			 Halton PCT 4 12 12 13 
			 Knowsley PCT 12 17 17 16 
			 North Liverpool PCT 14 15 15 15 
			 South Liverpool PCT 544 4 — — 
			 South Sefton PCT 16 19 19 20 
			 Southport and Formby PCT 5 — — 1 
			 St. Helens PCT 11 16 16 17 
			 Warrington PCT — 5 5 19 
		
	
	Note:
	The totals do not differentiate between pensioners and adult patients. However, it does differentiate between charge exempt" and charge paying" adults.
	Source:
	www.nhs.uk (11 March 2005)

Deafness

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health through what mechanism he plans to ensure that the guidelines in the National Institute for Mental Health in England and Department of Health report, Mental Health and Deafness—Towards Equity and Access"—Best Practice Guide, are effectively implemented.

Rosie Winterton: The guidelines outlined in Towards Equity and Access" will be implemented by primary care trusts in the normal way for national health service developments. They will be assisted in this task by an implementation group drawn from the voluntary sector, the National Institute for Mental Health in England and the providers of specialist services.

Deafness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the total cost is of providing a digital hearing aid on the NHS including (a) assessment, (b) fitting, (c) follow-up and (d) purchase of the aid;
	(2)  what the (a) assessment, (b) fitting and (c) follow-up costs for a (i) digital hearing aid and (ii) an analogue hearing aid are;
	(3)  what costs are included in the NHS reference cost for the (a) assessment, (b) fitting and (c) follow-up of digital hearing aids on the NHS.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department collects unit cost and activity data from all national health service providers in England each financial year. This information is available on the Department's website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/FinanceAndPlanning/NHSReferenceCosts/fs/en.
	The latest data available are for the financial year 2003–04, but, following a change in accounting procedures, data on the costs of digital hearing aids are no longer included. For analogue aids the data show:
	The average cost of an attendance with provision of a standard analogue aid was £63.
	The average cost of an attendance with provision of a superior analogue aid (including directional control) was £88.
	Under the heading of the fitting of hearing aids and counselling (including tinnitus) the average costs were:
	Assessment—£50
	Fitting—£57
	Follow-up—£36.

Deafness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 986W, on digital hearing aids, how many students he expects to graduate in the BSc in audiology in the next four years; how many such graduates he expects to recruit to the NHS; and how many patient journeys he expects to be added to capacity over that period.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally. Strategic health authorities (SHAs) plan to commission 171 Bachelors of Science in Audiology training places in 2004–05.
	In line with our policy of shifting the balance of power, it is for primary care trusts (PCTs), in partnership with SHAs and other local stakeholders, to plan, develop and improve services for local people, including audiology services.

Employee Checks

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken to ensure that individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children, are not able to gain access to other vulnerable client groups.

Stephen Ladyman: The protection of vulnerable adults (PoVA) list started operating on 26 July 2004. Since that date any referral for inclusion on the Protection of Children's Act list, including ones already made, have also been considered for inclusion on the PoVA list, a process known as cross-referral. The staff who maintain both lists are co-located and work closely together.

Doctor/Nurse Numbers

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses on average were employed in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2003 at (A) Diana, Princess of Wales hospital, Grimsby and (B) Scunthorpe general hospital.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		National health service hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) medical and qualified nursing staff within specified trusts(32)
		
			 Numbers (headcount) 
			  As at 30 September each year 
			  1997 2003 
			  Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses 
		
		
			 Total for specified trusts 350 1,664 432 1,564 
			 North East Lincolnshire NHS trust RF6 199 924 n/a n/a 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole hospitals NHS trust RJL n/a n/a 432 1,564 
			 Scunthorpe and Goole hospitals NHS trust RF7 151 740 — n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not applicable.
	(32) In 2001, North East Lincolnshire NHS trust merged with Scunthorpe and Goole hospitals NHS trust to form Northern Lincolnshire and Goole hospitals NHS trust.
	Sources:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Drug Prices

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have taken place in the price to the NHS of drugs produced by (a) GlaxoSmithKline and (b) other pharmaceutical companies in each of the last seven years.

Rosie Winterton: The prices of branded prescription medicines and the profits that companies are allowed to make on their sales to the national health service are controlled by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. A new five-year scheme commenced on 1 January 2005 and included a price reduction of 7 per cent. on all products covered by the scheme, which will deliver annual savings of £370 million for the NHS in England. The 1999 scheme also included a price reduction of 4.5 per cent. and has delivered annual savings to the NHS of some £250 million. In addition, the reimbursement prices of four generic medicines were reduced in 2003 and 2004 to save £300 million a year.
	The mechanisms and criteria for price changes are complex and apply to over 200 companies and thousands of products. The information requested can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

EU Prescribing Regulations

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligation the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has for consulting patients on the implementation of new EU prescribing regulations in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently no obligations for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to consult patients on the implementation of changes to product information resulting from European scientific advice or harmonised regulatory action. The MHRA's independent scientific advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has lay members. The advice of CSM informs the United Kingdom position in discussions within Europe. The MHRA values patients' views and opinions, which is reflected in the current proposals to reform the advisory committee structure. The proposals, which are subject to consultation, aim to increase lay members on these advisory committees.

Freedom of Information Act

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS personnel have been employed on processing requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 since 1 January.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 17 March 2005
	The information requested is not held centrally.

Freedom of Information Act

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) costs to the NHS and (b) services to customers of the NHS of the coming into effect of the full provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 since 1 January.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 17 March 2005
	Each national health service organisation is responsible for managing the impacts of changing governance arrangements, including Freedom of Information, within its own boundaries. Information about the detailed management of those governance arrangements is not held centrally.

General Practitioners

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for commissioning general practitioner services for people living in residential care homes.

John Hutton: All patients in residential care homes are entitled to the full range of personal medical services and the same rights of access to primary care as any other patient group. It is for primary care trusts to ensure general practitioner services are commissioned to meet the needs of their local population.

General Practitioners

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary of a GP was in real terms (a) in 1997 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Figures for the relevant years are shown in the table. The final column uprates the 1997 figure using gross domestic product (GDP) deflator figures into 2003–04 terms.
	
		£
		
			   Original IANI (33) 'Real' IANI (33) (2003–04 terms) 
		
		
			 1997–98 46,031 53,250 
			 2003–04 (34)67,040 (34)67,040 
		
	
	(33) Intended average net income.
	(34) denotes forecasted figure

Genito-Urinary Medicine

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the average waiting times for urgent genito-urinary medicine appointments.

Melanie Johnson: Data on genito-urinary medicine clinic waiting times are collected and published on behalf of the Department by the Health Protection Agency. The latest data are contained in the report GUM Waiting Times Audit November 2004", freely available on the Health Protection Agency's website at www.hpa.org.uk

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations took place at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table. This shows that the number of finished consultant episodes at Great Ormond Street Hospital has risen every year since 1997.
	
		Count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with an operation: Great Ormond Street Hospital National Health Service Trust, 1994–95 to 2003–04
		
			  FCEs 
		
		
			 1994–95 5,176 
			 1995–96 5,916 
			 1996–97 6,177 
			 1997–98 6,152 
			 1998–99 6,891 
			 1999–2000 8,343 
			 2000–01 8,448 
			 2001–02 9,216 
			 2002–03 10,245 
			 2003–04 12,815

Health Statistics (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmacies in Shrewsbury and Atcham there were in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information is not held centrally in the format requested.
	Information prior to 2002 is available by health authority (HA). Shrewsbury and Atcham was within Shropshire HA. Table 1 shows the number of community pharmacies in Shropshire HA for the years 1997–98 to 2001–02.
	Since 2002, the former Shropshire HA has been covered by Shropshire county primary care trust (PCT) and Telford and Wrekin PCT. Table 2 shows the number of community pharmacies for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	
		Table 1. Shropshire HA: number of community pharmacies
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997–98 66 
			 1998–99 66 
			 1999–2000 66 
			 2000–01 66 
			 2001–02 66 
		
	
	
		Table 2. Shropshire county and Telford and Wrekin PCTs: number of community pharmacies
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Shropshire county PCT 41 41 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 26 29

Health Technology Assessment

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will announce the topics for its health technology assessment programme for the 11th wave; and whether it will include adjuvant use of taxotere.

Rosie Winterton: An announcement will be made shortly on the 11th wave of topics referred to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Human Eggs

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human eggs were donated for (a) fertility treatment and (b) research purposes in each year from 1991 to 2004.

Melanie Johnson: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has informed me that information on human eggs donated by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) patients for the treatment of others is only available from 1999. The number of eggs donated is as shown in the table.
	
		Human eggs donated for fertility treatment between1999 and 2004
		
			  
		
		
			 1999(35) 9,924 
			 2000 15,164 
			 2001 14,720 
			 2002 12,664 
			 2003 11,739 
			 2004 12,139 
		
	
	(35) Information not collected prior to 1 April 1999.
	Source:
	Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
	Data on human eggs donated for research purposes are not collected routinely by the HFEA. However, information obtained by the HFEA from licensed centres suggests that approximately 1,500 human eggs have been donated for research purposes since 1991.
	Data on the HFEA's register are currently being audited to improve the accuracy of the information available. It may therefore be subject to future amendment following the completion of the modernisation programme in March 2006.

Intermediate Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 799W, on intermediate care, what further plans his Department has to increase access to intermediate care services on top of the NHS Plan targets for extra beds and care places; and what steps he expects local primary care trusts to take further to expand intermediate care services at a local level.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 18 March 2005
	The key priorities of the Department are designed to ensure that local health and social care systems continue to invest in and develop the concept of intermediate care alongside mainstream primary, community and social care services.
	In addition, we are investing £60 million over the years 2006–07 and 2007–08 to set up joint projects between councils, their national health service and other partners to test and evaluate innovative ways of establishing sustainable arrangements for prevention work including intermediate care services that will provide early and better targeted interventions for older people; which will maintain and enhance their independence and quality of life; and avoid the need for hospital or other high intensity care.

Medical Treatment (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients living in the Coventry area have had (a) operations and (b) other medical treatments funded by the NHS in European countries in each of the last three years.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Mental Health Care (Suffolk)

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health beds were available in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of mental health beds available in Suffolk, local health partnership national health service trust is only held centrally for 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04. The figures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of beds 
		
		
			 2000–01 324 
			 2001–02 300 
			 2002–03 289 
			 2003–04 284

Mental Health Care (Suffolk)

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Suffolk residents were placed in mental health beds outside the county of Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Multiple Sclerosis

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the cost-sharing agreement in ensuring the provision of therapies for people with multiple sclerosis; and what assessment he has made of whether a similar model could be applied in the provision of treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

Stephen Ladyman: Currently over 9,000 people are being treated with disease modifying drugs under the multiple sclerosis (MS) risk sharing scheme. This exceeds the number, 7,500 to 9,000 or 12.5 to 15 per cent. of the estimated MS population, whom it was estimated would benefit at the start of the scheme in May 2002.
	No assessment has been made of the feasibility of introducing similar arrangements for the provision of treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

Myasthenia Gravis

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to increase the number of NHS (a) nurses and (b) consultants qualified to diagnose and treat myasthenia gravis.

John Hutton: Post-registration training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.
	Access to training is affected by a number of factors, such as the availability of funding, whether staff can be released, the availability of appropriate training interventions, mentors and assessors. It would not be practical for the centre to be prescriptive on this.

National Programme for IT

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the national programme for IT as it affects community pharmacists; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Within the national health service national programme for information technology (NPfIT) a system for the electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) will make it easier for general practitioners (GPs) or other prescribers to issue prescriptions and more convenient for patients to collect their medicines. Prescriptions will be transferred electronically to a pharmacist or other dispensing contractor and to the Prescription Pricing Authority to authorise payment. Following development work, the ETP service went live successfully at an initial GP practice and community pharmacy in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on 21 February 2005.
	Discussions with other potential initial implementer sites are underway. The purpose of the initial implementer sites is to prove the system, and to look at local prescribing and dispensing processes in light of the introduction of the new service. This will ensure that the benefits of the new service are maximised and lessons learned before a wider roll out.
	The national programme has brought together GP and community pharmacy user groups to provide advice and guidance during the development and implementation of the service. For the time being patients will continue to get a paper prescription.
	A wider roll out of the service will commence later in the year, with full implementation expected by 2007.

Neonatal Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list the neonatal special care units which are operational; and how many cots are available in each;
	(2)  which hospitals with neonatal units (a) offer free on-site accommodation for parents and (b) make accommodation available but charge for it;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) neonatal intensive care units and (b) high dependency care neonatal units, which are operational; and how many cots are available in each;
	(4)  what the average stay of babies in (a) special care, (b) high dependency and (c) intensive neonatal units was in the last period for which figures are available;
	(5)  what his plans are for funding neonatal care over the next five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the average daily number of cots available in wards classified as 'Intensive Care: Neonates' during 2003–04 has been placed in the Library.
	Information on parental accommodation at neonatal units is not collected centrally, nor are data on the average length of stay for babies admitted to units.
	An extra £20 million has been provided yearly to national health service primary care trusts (PCTs) for neonatal intensive care. This is in addition to the PCTs' general funding allocation, which is set to increase over the next five years and which may also
	be used to increase neonatal capacity where needed.

Neonatal Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the nurse to baby ratio is in each neonatal unit in NHS hospitals;
	(2)  when he expects to achieve British Association of Perinatal Medicine Standards for nursing levels.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the nurse-to-baby ratio in each neonatal unit is not collected centrally.
	It is for local hospital trusts to ensure that there are appropriate nursing levels within neonatal units relative to the number and criticality of the infants on the unit, as set out in the report of the neonatal intensive care services review group, which was published in April 2003.

Neonatal Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) whole time equivalent and (b) head count specialist neonatal (i) nurses and (ii) doctors have been employed in the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

John Hutton: Information is not collected on the number of specialist neonatal nurses or doctors.

NHS Estate

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS estate was compliant with (a) fire safety and (b) health and safety legislation on 1 April 2004; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: At 1 April 2004, the national health service reported an increase to 92.9 per cent. in the proportions of the NHS estate, based on the total patient occupied floor area, that was fully compliant with fire safety requirements. The equivalent figure for health and safety increased to 91.2 per cent. Trusts make every effort to remedy any concerns from local enforcement bodies as quickly as possible.
	The small area of the estate reported as non-compliant covered a wide variety of conditions, including that which is just below standard, and these figures do not indicate significant levels of risk.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding NHS Professionals received from his Department in financial year 2003–04; and how much it will receive in 2004–05;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on recent performance against targets set for NHS Professionals;
	(3)  what percentage of bookings received by NHS Professionals in 2004 were successfully filled by NHS Professionals using its own nurse database;
	(4)  if he will break down his Department's funding for NHS Professionals by budget subhead; and whether Government funding is intended to cover running costs, with particular reference to (a) staff salaries, (b) recruitment costs, (c) infrastructure, (d) premises, (e) marketing and (f) advertising costs.

John Hutton: The 2004–05 business plan for the NHS Professionals Special Health Authority is available from the Library. NHS Professionals is currently working with officials in the Department to develop a business plan and corporate strategy for 2005–06 and beyond so that it can become self-financing and prepare to take on independent status from 2007–08 as recommended by the Department's review of its arm's length bodies.
	The Department invested £23.2 million in NHS Professionals 2003–04 and £26.6 million in 2004–05. This represents a contribution to the wider running costs and activities of NHS Professionals and is not directly attributable to specific budget headings. The flexible careers scheme was included until the establishment of the special health authority in April 2004. Funding for the scheme was £9,124,033 for 2003–04.
	Information relating to the percentage of bookings successfully filled using the NHS Professionals database is not held centrally.

NHS Staff (Devon)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) medical and (b) non-medical staff were employed by (i) East Devon Primary Care Trust, (ii) Mid Devon Primary Care Trust, (iii) North Devon Primary Care Trust, (iv) South Hams and West Devon Primary Care Trust, (v) Plymouth Primary Care Trust, (vi) Torbay Primary Care Trust, (vii) Teignbridge Primary Care Trust, (viii) Exeter Primary Care Trust, (ix) North Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, (x) Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust, (xi) South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, (xii) Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, (xiii) Devon Partnership NHS Trust, (xiv) South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority and (xv) Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust in each year since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 March 2005
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) staff, general medical practitioners and practice nurses medical and non-medical staff for specified organisations—England, as at 30 September
		
			 Number (headcount) 
			   2001 
			   Medical staff Non-medical staff 
			   Doctors of which: HCHS doctors(36) General medical practitioners(37) Non-medical staff of which: HCHS non-medical staff Practice staff(38) 
		
		
			 South West Peninsula Q21 3,145 1,934 1,211 34,732 31,105 3,627 
			 of which:
			 East Devon PCT 5FT 90 2 88 941 679 262 
			 Exeter PCT 5FR 110 6 104 717 430 287 
			 Mid Devon PCT 5FV 85 6 79 788 532 256 
			 North Devon PCT 5FQ 141 13 128 899 577 322 
			 Plymouth PCT 5F1 228 61 167 2,740 2,126 614 
			 South Hams and West Devon PCT 5CV 94 0 94 778 515 263 
			 Teignbridge PCT 5FY 81 0 81 234 13 221 
			 Torbay PCT 5CW 95 0 95 337 20 317 
			 South West Peninsula StHA Q21 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 North and East Devon Partnerships NHS Trust RWV 52 52 0 1,723 1,723 0 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust RK9 500 500 0 4,623 4,623 0 
			 South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust RA9 292 292 0 4,572 4,572 0 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust RH8 349 349 0 3,942 3,942 0 
			 North Devon Healthcare Trust RBZ 170 170 0 1,410 1,410 0 
			 Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust RJ9 0 0 0 1,295 1,295 0 
		
	
	
		
			   2002 
			   Medical staff Non-medical staff 
			   Doctors of which: HCHS doctors1 General medical practitioners2 Non-medical staff of which: HCHS non-medical staff Practice staff3 
		
		
			 South West Peninsula Q21 3,205 1,999 1,206 35,931 31,970 3,961 
			 of which:
			 East Devon PCT 5FT 93 2 91 1,062 798 264 
			 Exeter PCT 5FR 119 14 105 796 499 297 
			 Mid Devon PCT 5FV 92 10 82 918 634 284 
			 North Devon PCT 5FQ 137 12 125 939 632 307 
			 Plymouth PCT 5F1 231 64 167 2,766 2,152 614 
			 South Hams and West Devon PCT 5CV 85 0 85 839 552 287 
			 Teignbridge PCT 5FY 83 1 82 751 530 221 
			 Torbay PCT 5CW 98 0 98 947 457 490 
			 South West Peninsula StHA Q21 6 6 0 69 69 0 
			 North and East Devon Partnerships NHS Trust RWV 72 72 0 2,379 2,379 0 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust RK9 544 544 0 4,769 4,769 0 
			 South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust RA9 290 290 0 3,135 3,135 0 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust RH8 353 353 0 4,029 4,029 0 
			 North Devon Healthcare Trust RBZ 132 132 0 1,510 1,510 0 
			 Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust RJ9 0 0 0 1,428 1,428 — 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 
			   Medical staff Non-medical staff 
			   Doctors of which: HCHS doctors1 General medical practitioners2 Non-medical staff of which: HCHS non-medical staff Practice staff3 
		
		
			 South West Peninsula Q21 3,420 2,196 1,224 36,962 33,163 3,799 
			 of which:
			 East Devon PCT 5FT 92 2 90 1,022 734 288 
			 Exeter PCT 5FR 118 11 107 805 512 293 
			 Mid Devon PCT 5FV 96 15 81 834 617 217 
			 North Devon PCT 5FQ 148 13 135 1,018 699 319 
			 Plymouth PCT 5F1 227 60 167 2,865 2,251 614 
			 South Hams and West Devon PCT 5CV 78 0 78 862 577 285 
			 Teignbridge PCT 5FY 81 1 80 789 568 221 
			 Torbay PCT 5CW 99 0 99 873 513 360 
			 South West Peninsula StHA Q21 7 7 0 111 111 0 
			 North and East Devon Partnerships NHS Trust RWV 94 94 0 2,285 2,285 0 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust RK9 614 614 0 4,926 4,926 0 
			 South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust RA9 297 297 0 3,223 3,223 0 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust RH8 396 396 0 4,241 4,241 0 
			 North Devon Healthcare Trust RBZ 139 139 0 1,699 1,699 0 
			 Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust RJ9 0 0 0 1,495 1,495 — 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable.
	(36) Excludes hospital medical hospital practitioners and hospital medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.
	(37) All practitioners include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para. 52 SFA), PMS other, GP retainers, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	(38) Practice staff includes practice nurses, direct patient care, admin and clerical and other.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census
	Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census

NHS Office Equipment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines or regulations govern the purchase of office equipment by NHS hospitals.

John Hutton: As public bodies, national health service trusts must comply with all relevant United Kingdom and European procurement regulations.
	The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has jointly negotiated separate national framework agreements for photocopiers (multi-functional devices) and fax machines with Office of Government Commerce buying solutions. These agreements require that all appointed suppliers comply with all the relevant health and safety legislation and the European waste electronic and electrical equipment Directive. They both also actively encourage support of sustainable development.

NHS Waiting Times

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times were for patients at (a) West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) Addenbrookes Hospital NHS Trust for (i) general surgery, (ii) urology, (iii) trauma and orthopaedics, (iv) ear, nose and throat, (v) ophthalmology, (vi) oral surgery and (vii) obstetrics and gynaecology for each year since 2001–02.

Stephen Ladyman: The average waiting times for patients at West Suffolk Hospital National Health Service Trust and Addenbrookes Hospital NHS Trust for general surgery, urology, trauma and orthopaedics, ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology, oral surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology for each year since 2001–02 are shown in the tables.
	
		Addenbrookes hospital (now known as Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust): average waits in weeks by specialty
		
			  March 
			 Specialty 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04) 2004–05 (December) 
		
		
			 General surgery 17.69 16.20 10.83 8.28 
			 Urology 11.74 12.23 9.10 10.93 
			 Trauma and orthopaedics 18.67 15.86 13.03 12.41 
			 Ear, nose and throat 19.77 16.08 12.07 12.44 
			 Ophthalmology 11.87 12.14 8.86 7.05 
			 Oral surgery 6.97 7.29 7.32 6.22 
			 Gynaecology 11.68 10.33 10.02 8.45 
			 All specialties 12.73 12.24 9.89 8.61 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures shown are the median wait for each of the specialties requested.
	Source:
	Department of Health waiting time statistics.
	
		West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust: median waits in weeks by specialty
		
			  March 
			 Specialty 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 (December) 
		
		
			 General surgery 17.69 18.23 11.99 14.26 
			 Urology 11.91 10.79 9.26 11.20 
			 Trauma and orthopaedics 21.52 16.78 15.68 14.52 
			 Ear, nose and throat 17.65 18.83 15.09 18.23 
			 Ophthalmology 24.25 18.24 11.53 6.30 
			 Oral surgery 21.89 16.45 15.73 18.28 
			 Gynaecology 13.06 11.71 9.78 10.05 
			 All specialties 19.34 16.09 12.55 12.32 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures shown are the median wait for each of the specialties requested.
	Source:
	Department of Health waiting time statistics.

NIMHE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to whom the National Institute for Mental Health, England is accountable.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) is part of the Modernisation Agency, which is part of the Department, until 31 March 2005. The Secretary of State for Health is ultimately accountable.
	From 1 April 2005, the NIMHE will become part of the care services improvement partnership, hosted by the prescription pricing authority, and will be accountable to the care services directorate in the Department.
	Each NIMHE regional development centre is hosted by a separate National health service organisation and is accountable, in the first instance, to the boards of their employing organisations, then to the NIMHE and ultimately to the Secretary of State for the central programme work they carry out.

Speech Therapy

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received by the NHS Healthcare Commission in each of the last six months regarding (a) waiting times for speech therapists and (b) access to speech therapists.

John Hutton: I understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that information about complaints relating to speech therapists cannot be readily retrieved and separately identified without incurring disproportionate costs.

Nurses

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average pay of a fully qualified NHS nurse was in real terms (a) in 1997 and (b) the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The average pay of a fully qualified national health service nurse is shown in the table. The earliest year for which the Department holds figures is 1999.
	
		Average annualised earnings(39) of qualified nurses: 1999 and 2002—England
		
			 Average annualised earnings(40) in real terms (£)(41) 
			  1999 2002 
		
		
			 2002–03 as reference year 22,900 24,500 
		
	
	(39) The NHS earnings survey is based on the payroll of a sample of approximately 50 per cent. of NHS trusts in August.
	(40) Figures rounded to the nearest 100.
	(41) Figures uprated to real terms" values using the gross domestic product (GDP)deflator index
	Sources:
	1. Department of Health national health service earnings survey.
	2. Her Majesty's Treasury GDP deflator index.

Obesity

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the adult population was obese in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many individuals that percentage represents in actual terms in each of those years; how many obese persons he estimates died in each of those years; and how many individual adults became obese in each of those years.

Melanie Johnson: Information is not available in exactly the form requested. The figures for the percentage of the adult population that was obese in the five years from 1999 to 2003, taken from the Health Survey for England, are shown in the table. The Health Survey for England provides estimates of the underlying population figures but, because of the small sample size any representation of the figures as a number of the total population should be treated with caution. Although Health Survey data for 2003 are weighted to provide a better match to the general population, un-weighted data for 2003 are shown here for consistency with previous years' data, which have not yet been weighted. Figures for the incidence of obesity are not available.
	
		Adults classed as obese (body mass index greater than 30): 1999–2003
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Obese as a proportion of the total sample (percentage) 20.0 21.2 22.4 22.5 23.2 
			 Sample base(42) (number) 6,903 6,963 13,681 6,478 13,056 
			 Estimated number of obese adults in the total population (million) 7.6 8.1 8.6 8.8 9.0 
		
	
	(42) Aged 16 and over with both valid height and weight measurements.
	Source:
	Health Survey for England.
	With regard to how many obese people died in each of those years, the fact that a person was obese is not routinely recorded at death certification. However, data on deaths where the underlying cause was certified as obesity or where this condition contributed to the death are collected. The following table shows the number of deaths in England and Wales where obesity was the underlying cause of death and where obesity contributed to the death, for the calendar years 1999 to 2003.
	
		Number of deaths where obesity—International Classification of Diseases (ICD)—9278.0; ICD-10 E66—was the underlying cause of death or contributed to the death: England and Wales, 1999–2003
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Underlying cause 165 161 183 182 219 
			 Contributed to death 597 626 695 732 885 
			 Total number of deaths from all causes 556,118 535,664 530,373 533,527 538,254 
		
	
	Note:
	Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.

Opticians

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring dispensing opticians within the scope of NHS regulation; if he will change General Ophthalmic Services regulations to allow optometrists and ophthalmic opticians to refer patients directly to hospital eye services; what plans he has to amend section 24 of the Opticians Act 1989 to allow professionals other than ophthalmic opticians, optometrists and registered medical practitioners to conduct sight tests; for what reasons dispensing opticians are not paid for the general ophthalmic services they supply; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of the General Ophthalmic Service.

Rosie Winterton: Dispensing opticians do not provide general ophthalmic services (GOS) and are therefore not paid by the national health service. We are planning to review the GOS arrangements shortly. This will include considering the relationship of dispensing opticians with the NHS, but we have no plans to amend section 24 of the Opticians Act 1989 to allow professionals other than ophthalmic opticians and registered medical practitioners to conduct sight tests.
	The national health service (General Ophthalmic Services Supplementary List) and (General Ophthalmic Services Amendment and Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2005, which come into force on 1 April 2005, amend regulations to allow optometrists to refer patients directly to ophthalmic hospitals.

Regional Offices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regional (a) bodies, (b) institutions, (c) taskforces, (d) panels, (e) offices and (f) organisations the Government has established since May 1997 which are the responsibility of his Department.

Rosie Winterton: No new regional bodies, institutions, taskforces or panels have been established since 1997. Some new or merged bodies have however set up regional presences or offices including:
	Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.
	Commission for Social Care Inspection.
	Health Protection Agency.
	Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
	National Patient Safety Agency.
	NHS Appointments Commission.
	NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service.
	NHS Litigation Authority.
	NHS Pensions Agency.
	NHS Professionals.
	UK Transplant.

South West London and St. George's NHS Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the forecast expenditure against budget for South West London and St. George's NHS Trust is in 2004–05.

Stephen Ladyman: The audited information in respect of the 2004–05 financial position of national health service trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts. This information will be available centrally in autumn 2005. We have no plans to publish un-audited information.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role is fulfilled by the third special adviser in his Department.

Rosie Winterton: Special advisers in this Department are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the speeches his special advisers made in an official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004, broken down by date.

Rosie Winterton: All meetings held by special advisers and all speeches given by special advisers are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

Springfield Mental Hospital

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been sectioned at Springfield Mental Hospital, Tooting, in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information on the number of patients sectioned is not held centrally. Information on the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act, 1983, of patients, on admission and subsequent to admission in South West London and St. George's Mental Health National Health Service Trust is shown in the table. Information is collected on a NHS trust basis rather than by individual hospital units.
	
		
			  Total detentions (on admission and subsequent to admission) Detentions on admission Detentions subsequent to admission 
		
		
			 2003–04 935 539 396 
			 2002–03 1,299 528 771 
			 2001–02 1,180 588 592 
			 2000–01 988 410 578 
			 1999–2000 948 526 422 
			 1998–99 796 489 307 
			 1997–98 628 470 158 
			 1996–97 589 403 186 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures exclude previous legislation (fifth schedule) and other acts.
	2. A patient may be detained more than once.
	3. Detentions subsequent to admission include changes from Section 136 to Sections 2 and 3 and Informal to Sections 2 and 3, 5(2) and 5(4).
	4. The table shows detentions for South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust from 1996–97 to 2003–04. Data is not available in a comparable format for earlier years.

Smoking

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce adult smoking rates to 21 per cent. or less by 2010 will be met;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce adult smoking rates among routine and manual groups to 26 per cent. or less by 2010 will be met.

Melanie Johnson: The public service agreement (PSA) targets for smoking prevalence in 2010 were set in summer 2004. A delivery plan for the White Paper, Choosing Health", has been developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders to contribute to achieving the PSA target.
	The delivery plan, together with the tobacco control strategy currently in place, will see an expansion of the national health service stop smoking services and additional support to help smokers quit; further measures to reduce peoples exposure to second-hand smoke; further restrictions on tobacco advertising and promotion; continued highly effective national smoking campaigns; work with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to reduce the supply of smuggled and counterfeit tobacco and measures to combat underage sales. All these measures will contribute to delivery of the PSA target.
	Latest prevalence figures, for 2003, published in December 2004 are shown in the following table.
	
		Prevalence of cigarette smoking (persons aged 16 and over, England)
		
			 Percentage 
			  2003 
		
		
			 Routine and manual socio-economic group 32 
			 All persons 25 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics General Household Survey 2003.